KARACHI: The online portal launched for the Sindh government’s motorcycle fuel subsidy programme was temporarily taken offline after repeated hacking attempts, Sindh Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said on Tuesday.
The portal, introduced a day earlier by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, allows registered motorcyclists to apply for a monthly Rs2,000 fuel subsidy by entering their CNIC and bank account details. Applicants then receive an automated confirmation message.
However, many motorcyclists reported being unable to access the website for several hours after its launch, leading to complaints over registration issues.
Addressing a press conference, Minister Chawla confirmed that the system had been temporarily shut down due to cyberattacks but said it was later restored after security measures were strengthened.
He shared that 15,000 motorcycles have so far been registered, while 3,000 people successfully submitted subsidy applications. Of these, 1,500 applicants have already received Rs2,000 each through their Sindh Bank accounts.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, speaking alongside Chawla, said that nearly 6.7 million motorcycles are registered across Sindh, and their owners will be eligible for the Rs2,000 monthly subsidy.
500kg crystal meth seized in sea operation
During the same press conference, Ministers Memon and Chawla also announced the seizure of more than 500 kilograms of crystal meth and 3,000 bottles of foreign liquor in a joint operation conducted in the Arabian Sea.
According to Mr Memon, Naval Intelligence had shared intelligence regarding an attempted drug smuggling operation at sea with the excise department and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA).
Minister Chawla said the operation was jointly carried out by the Excise and Narcotics Control Wing, Naval Intelligence, and PMSA.
“As a result of the operation, 500kg of crystal meth and 3,000 bottles of foreign whiskey, worth billions of rupees, were seized,” he said.
He described the raid as a strong example of coordinated action against organised drug trafficking networks and added that investigations are underway to identify local facilitators, financial backers, and other individuals linked to the smuggling network.
Rs35bn relief package announced
Senior Minister Memon also said the Sindh government has approved a Rs35 billion relief package aimed at providing maximum support to the public.
He noted that poor farmers have been given top priority, with farmers owning less than 25 acres of land receiving relief payments of Rs1,500 per acre through data obtained from the Benazir Hari Card system.
The transfer of these funds through Sindh Bank has already begun, he added.
Memon further said the provincial government has also introduced another subsidy for citizens using public transport.