Punjab govt announces electric bikes for all female applicants

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz led-Punjab government has expanded its electric bike initiative, increasing the number of bikes available for students from 20,000 to 27,200, with a focus on female students.

The Transport Department has also announced that all female students who apply will now be eligible to receive an electric bike.

The initiative, aimed at providing affordable transportation to students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, was first introduced in March, with the Punjab cabinet approving the distribution of 20,000 electric bikes.

However, in response to overwhelming demand, the government has raised the number of bikes to 27,200. This includes both electric and petrol-powered bikes to cater to the diverse needs of students across the province.

According to a spokesperson from the Transport Department, orphan students will be granted bikes completely free of charge, while the Bank of Punjab has approved loans for 20,000 male and female students to purchase the bikes.

The spokesperson further stated that over 5,000 petrol bikes and 2,000 electric bikes have already been distributed, with the process ongoing.

In an effort to support female students, the Transport Department has confirmed that all female applicants will be eligible for electric bikes. The distribution of these bikes is set to continue, with plans to release an additional 6,500 electric bikes in the near future.

To ensure the reliability of the program, each bike comes with two years of insurance and service coverage.

Currently, more than 15,000 students are on the waiting list, and they will be prioritized for future bike distributions.

The Chief Minister of Punjab had previously emphasized the environmental benefits of electric bikes, noting that their introduction was part of a broader initiative to reduce pollution. However, challenges such as battery theft and limited mileage led to the decision to also provide petrol bikes alongside electric models.

In a bid to ease the financial burden on students, Maryam Nawaz, a prominent political figure in the province, announced that the down payment for the bikes would be reduced to Rs. 25,000, with monthly installments set at under Rs. 5,000. The scheme officially began in May, and a separate program will soon be introduced to reward students who achieve exceptional academic results.