The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has expanded its electric bike initiative for students, increasing the allocation from 20,000 to 27,200 bikes, focusing particularly on female students.
The Transport Department now guarantees eligibility for an electric bike to all female students who apply. Initially launched in March, the initiative was designed to provide affordable transportation to students from low-income families, initially approving 20,000 electric bikes.
Due to high demand, the government has increased the number to 27,200, including electric and petrol-powered bikes, to accommodate various student needs across the province.
A spokesperson from the Transport Department mentioned that orphan students will receive bikes free of charge, while the Bank of Punjab has extended loan facilities to 20,000 students for bike purchases.
So far, over 5,000 petrol bikes and 2,000 electric bikes have been distributed, with further distributions ongoing.
The initiative supports female students by ensuring all female applicants are eligible for electric bikes. An additional 6,500 units are expected to be distributed soon.
Each bike is backed by two years of insurance and service coverage to ensure program reliability.
Over 15,000 students remain on the waiting list, with plans to prioritize them in future distributions.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has highlighted the environmental advantages of electric bikes and addressed challenges like battery theft and limited mileage by including petrol bikes in the program.
Maryam Nawaz announced a reduced down payment of Rs. 25,000 on the bikes, with monthly instalments under Rs. 5,000 to ease students’ financial constraints. The program started in May and will soon be complemented by a new scheme rewarding academically outstanding students.
