Maryam unveils ambitious plan to expand electric public transport

Punjab to deploy 5,000 electric buses in five years Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched what she described as the province’s biggest environmentally friendly transport revolution by unveiling an ambitious plan to expand electric public transport, e-bikes, e-taxis and electric three-wheelers across Punjab. Chairing a meeting of the Transport Department and the Punjab Mass Transit Authority, the chief minister was briefed on progress regarding electric buses, the Gujranwala and Faisalabad mass transit projects, e-taxis, the Lahore Super Autonomous Rapid Transit project, e-bikes, the command and control centre, and the Murree Glass Train initiative. The meeting decided to introduce additional electric buses, e-taxis, e-bikes and electric three-wheelers simultaneously to promote green transport across the province. Officials informed the meeting that Punjab had also achieved another milestone by establishing an electric bus manufacturing industry under the government’s business-friendly policies. An assembly plant has already commenced assembling electric buses in the province. The chief minister said Punjab would deploy 5,000 electric buses over the next five years, adding that the province was no longer only operating buses but had also started manufacturing them. The meeting also approved the re-launch of the interest-free e-bike scheme for students under easier instalment plans. Under the programme, 100,000 electric bikes will be provided to students within one year. The Punjab government will provide a subsidy of Rs70,000 per e-bike. Male students will pay a down payment of Rs14,000 and an interest-free monthly instalment of Rs2,100.