The Punjab government has given the green light to a scheme that will provide 50,000 electric bikes and 5,000 electric taxis to students and unemployed youth on an interest-free basis, with the plan cleared for inclusion in the provincial budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27. Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan confirmed that eligible electric taxi beneficiaries would receive easy installment plans and full interest-free financing under the approved government proposal, with the minister adding that the government was also considering additional incentives for participants, including possible support covering vehicle registration costs under the new scheme.
The initiative is positioned as a dual-purpose intervention, aimed at expanding access to affordable and cleaner transport options while simultaneously creating income-generating opportunities for young people across Punjab. Bilal said the initiative represented practical steps to bring young people into economic activity while promoting electric transport and reducing environmental pollution across the province. For students and entry-level workers who currently depend on costly fuel-powered two-wheelers or informal transport arrangements, access to an interest-free electric bike removes a significant financial barrier to daily mobility, while the e-taxi component provides a pathway to self-employment for unemployed youth who may lack the capital to acquire a vehicle independently.
Separately, Punjab’s government is reviewing whether to continue its free public transport facility, potentially linking its future to prevailing petroleum prices in the country. A briefing presented to the Punjab chief minister indicated that the free transport facility could be withdrawn if petrol prices fall to Rs. 300 per litre, with a final decision expected within the coming weeks and authorities also considering a proposal not to further extend the free travel programme. According to figures shared in the briefing, more than 70 million passengers have used the free public transport facility over the past two months, underlining the scale of demand the scheme has generated since its introduction and the fiscal weight that sustaining it places on the provincial government heading into the new budget cycle.
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