Punjab government announces electric bikes for all female applicants.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz led-Punjab government has increased the number of electric bikes from 20,000 to 27,200 under the electric bike initiative, with a special 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.
Electric bikes for all female applicants
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 maintained that over 5,000 petrol bikes and 2,000 electric bikes have already been distributed, with the process ongoing.
In an attempt to help 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.
Environmental benefits of electric bikes
As Punjab government announces electric bikes for all female applicants, the Chief Minister of Punjab had earlier 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.
