PM Shehbaz announces free E-V bikes scheme for students, Check eligibility inside

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced the distribution of free EV bikes to students across the nation and instructed responsible authorities to come up with a comprehensive plan to improve public access to electric vehicles (EVs), Radio Pakistan has reported.

The prime minister was presiding over a meeting in Islamabad to push the use of electric vehicles across the country. He stated that encouraging electric vehicles will save billions of foreign exchange on fuel expenditure, help save the environment, and improve the local industries.

Eligibility Criteria for the PM Free E-V Bike scheme 

PM Shehbaz declared that the federal government will provide EV bikes to high-achieving students from all educational boards in Pakistan, including the Federal Board.

EV bikes, rickshaws on easy loans

To enhance employment, he mentioned that the plan is also in the pipeline to give electric rickshaws and loaders to unemployed citizens on easy loans.

He further instructed officials to initiate steps towards creating an all-encompassing ecosystem for the manufacturing and repair of electric vehicles in Pakistan.

In order to maintain transparency, the prime minister ordered that the whole process of electric vehicle distribution and government incentives be audited by a third party. He insisted that economically backward people should receive top priority in the government’s scheme for promoting and providing support for electric vehicles.

PM Shehbaz also demanded a public campaign to make citizens aware of the government’s support program for buying electric vehicles. He emphasized that all electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders under the proposed program should be of high quality and safety standards.

The meeting was apprised of the existing situation regarding the EV sector in Pakistan and government efforts to enhance public accessibility to electric vehicles.

It was mentioned that the government is endeavoring to make the purchase of electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders easy by providing low-priced, soft loans.

Over 100,000 electric bikes and over 3,000 rickshaws and loaders are to be provided under economical and accessible conditions with the backing of the government.

The session was informed that students with the highest grades at the intermediate level on every educational board, including the Federal Board, will be given free electric bikes under the program.

It was informed that a 25 percent special quota has been reserved for women, and quotas for the remaining provinces have been allocated in proportion to population numbers. The Prime Minister ordered Balochistan’s quota to be raised to 10 percent.

It was also informed that four new companies that make batteries are establishing their businesses in Pakistan as a consequence of this scheme, offering new business prospects and employment.

The prime minister ordered to initiate the scheme on these proposals at the earliest.