LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Youth Initiative ‘E-bike programme’ by giving a symbolic key to a college student of Jampur on Thursday. She also launched the Vehicle Inspection Regime for Private Vehicle Project and also gave the first e-loader rickshaw manufacturing licence to the Nawawa Mobilizers Company. The chief minister also announced the E-bike project phase 2, establishing solarized charging stations in colleges and universities.

She said the Punjab government will pay Rs20,000 out of Rs40,000 as a down payment for E-bikes. We received applications from 8,000 female students and are giving E-bikes to all of them, she said. Maryam said students will also be given laptops and added the government was introducing a scholarship programme of Rs25 billion for students who cannot afford higher education.

Regarding E-bikes, the chief minister said they have fixed reasonable monthly instalments. “For children whose parents are not alive, the condition to acquire their guarantee has been abolished. We will make Punjab green by shifting to electric transport. We have also signed an MoU for getting environment-friendly buses and 27 buses will arrive by December.”

Regarding smog, Maryam said Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was working vigorously to eliminate smog and environmental pollution.

The chief minister also inquired about three-wheeler E-tron features for the ride of women and also inspected electric loader rickshaws. She was apprised of E-road washer vehicles and given a briefing about the electric buses project.