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By Sabeeh Zanair :
Female students to receive full down payment support as government expands green transport programme
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the relaunch of the province’s interest-free electric bike scheme, under which 100,000 electric motorcycles will be distributed to students over the next year.
The initiative is part of the provincial government’s broader strategy to promote affordable transportation, encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce carbon emissions across Punjab.
Government to provide Rs70,000 subsidy per bike
Under the revised scheme, the Punjab government will provide a Rs70,000 subsidy for each electric motorcycle.
Male students will be required to make a Rs14,000 down payment, after which they can pay the remaining amount through interest-free monthly instalments of Rs2,100.
In a move aimed at encouraging greater participation by women, the government will fully cover the down payment and registration costs for female students. They will only be responsible for paying the monthly instalments of Rs2,100.
Officials say the additional support is intended to improve access to education and safe transportation for women across the province.
Government employees also included
The Punjab government has also expanded the scheme’s eligibility criteria to include government employees, allowing them to purchase electric motorcycles through the same interest-free financing model.
Authorities believe widening eligibility will help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles while reducing fuel consumption and transportation costs.
Broader push for electric transport
Alongside the electric bike programme, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed transport authorities to move forward with a wider clean mobility plan.
The province intends to introduce:
- Electric buses
- Electric taxis
- Electric three-wheelers
As part of the long-term strategy, the government plans to deploy 5,000 electric buses across Punjab over the next five years to modernise public transport and reduce urban air pollution.
Government tightens oversight of subsidy schemes
The announcement comes shortly after provincial authorities launched enforcement action under the Punjab E-Taxi Scheme.
Officials found that some beneficiaries had allegedly used subsidised electric taxis for personal purposes instead of commercial operations, contrary to the programme’s conditions.
Following a verification campaign, authorities discovered that several recipients had removed official branding from their vehicles and failed to operate them as registered taxis.
Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said legal action and vehicle confiscation would only apply to beneficiaries who violated the scheme’s terms, adding that the government maintains complete records of all participants.
The E-Taxi programme previously distributed 1,100 electric taxis through interest-free financing supported by a Rs4 billion government subsidy, with the aim of creating employment opportunities while promoting environmentally friendly transport.
Supporting Pakistan’s electric vehicle transition
Punjab’s latest initiatives form part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to encourage electric mobility, reduce dependence on imported fuel and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Experts say financial incentives such as subsidies and interest-free financing can play a key role in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, particularly among students and middle-income households.
The provincial government expects the expanded programme to improve mobility, create economic opportunities and support the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation across Punjab.
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