LAHORE (The Thursday Times) — In a bid to tackle youth unemployment and environmental decline, the Punjab government is set to roll out the first phase of its Green e-Taxi Programme this August, putting 1,100 electric taxis on the roads through interest-free instalment plans.
The provincial initiative, described as both socially transformative and economically strategic, is being marketed as a keystone of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s mobility vision. The plan will distribute electric vehicles to individuals and fleet operators, while absorbing costs traditionally borne by new vehicle owners such as registration, token tax, and markup fees.
Unlike prior attempts to modernise public transport, this scheme is explicitly people-centred. It targets jobless youth, with a reserved allocation for women to encourage their entry into the public transport space. Thirty of the vehicles are designated for female drivers, an unprecedented move in the region’s transport sector.
“The Punjab Green E-Taxi Programme is not just about vehicles,” said Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan. “It’s about empowering citizens, reducing emissions, and building an inclusive future.”
An online application portal, currently in development by the Punjab Information Technology Board, will allow applicants to register digitally. Even before the campaign’s official launch, more than 60,000 applications have flooded in, indicating a demand that far outstrips supply.
The programme’s structure offers two main distribution streams: 1,000 taxis will be allocated to fleet owners (with a minimum requirement of 10 vehicles each), 100 to individual drivers, and 30 reserved exclusively for women. Vehicles include locally assembled electric models such as the Honri VC20 and VC30, both offering a driving range between 200 and 300 kilometres per charge.
Infrastructure is central to the plan’s long-term success. Nine suppliers have been shortlisted not just to deliver vehicles but also to establish service centres, spare parts depots, and EV charging points throughout the province. In Lahore, charging stations will be available every three kilometres.
This is not merely a transport upgrade. It is an economic stimulus and a shift toward a low-emissions future. Advocates say the programme will reduce urban noise and air pollution, stimulate EV adoption, upskill local labour, and support marginalised populations including rural youth and people with disabilities.
The government’s move comes amid growing urgency to modernise Pakistan’s urban infrastructure in the face of climate volatility and economic instability. While challenges around execution remain, the initiative signals a bold realignment of policy focus: from fossil-fuel dependency to a decentralised, citizen-first green economy.
