Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed authorities not to charge students a down payment under the provincial e-bike scheme.
According to ARY News, the chief minister rejected recommendations to impose additional charges on students apart from their monthly instalments.
Under the scheme, around 130,000 electric bikes will be provided to students. The Punjab government will also bear the interest and insurance costs for the bikes.
Officials have proposed setting the monthly instalment at around Rs3,000 for participating students, a proposal that has been agreed upon in principle.
Maryam Nawaz has also ordered authorities to open the e-bike portal this week and ensure that eligible students receive their bikes within six weeks.
The government has also given in-principle approval to gradually expand the CM Electric Bike Scheme to government employees, departments, the general public and delivery riders.
During a briefing, Transport Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said students would receive helmets and safety rods free of charge along with the electric bikes.
He said the bikes would be equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.
Students interested in receiving the bikes will also be provided with free two-day training in electric bike riding under the chief minister’s directives.
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