In a major push for eco-friendly transport and youth empowerment, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has greenlit a Rs9 billion subsidy plan to distribute electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders across Pakistan.

The initiative, set to be launched soon by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to make electric mobility more accessible — starting with a large-scale distribution of 40,000 e-bikes in the first phase.

Electric bikes for students, rickshaws for public

Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the ECC approved the scheme targeting students and low-income earners. Under the plan:

116,000 electric bikes will be provided free of cost to meritorious students from government colleges.
3,170 electric rickshaws and loaders will also be distributed in two phases.
25% quota will be reserved for women and 10% for commercial users.

Citizens from across Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, will be eligible to apply.

Rollout in phases

The project will be implemented in two phases.

Phase One will provide 40,000 e-bikes and 1,000 rickshaws/loaders.
Applications will be open nationwide following the PM's formal launch.

The goal is to promote sustainable mobility while supporting students and small-scale workers with reliable, cost-effective transport.

Additional financial approvals

The ECC also approved:

A Rs30 billion technical grant for settling claims under the Hawala Remittance Scheme, with directions for the State Bank and Finance Ministry to determine the payment mechanism.
An in-principle bailout grant of Rs2 billion for Quaid-e-Azam University, with a directive for the university to present a financial self-sufficiency plan.