According to the provincial Transport Department, all planning and groundwork for the project has been completed.

As part of the initiative, a special quota of 30 e-taxis has been reserved for women. The scheme will be launched formally within the next two weeks, said Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan.

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To facilitate applications, an online portal is currently being developed in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). Meanwhile, nine companies have been shortlisted to supply the e-taxis, which will be provided on interest-free easy installments.

The pilot phase of the project includes the distribution of 1,100 e-taxis among fleet owners, individual drivers, and ride-hailing companies. According to official documents, the Punjab government will cover the costs of vehicle token tax, markup, and registration fees.

According to the plan:

·        Fleet owners will get 1,000 e-taxis with a minimum requirement of purchasing 10 vehicles per owner.

·        There is a dedicated quota for women, and 100 e-taxis will be distributed to individuals.

·        A 40% down payment must be paid by fleet owners, while the Bank of Punjab will finance the remaining 60%.

·        For individuals, a 30% down payment will be paid by men, while 40% will be paid by women, ensuring balanced access to ownership.

The responsibility of charging stations, service centers, and spare parts availability is dependent on the shortlisted suppliers to ensure smooth operations of the e-taxis throughout the province.

This initiative reflects the government’s broader vision of sustainable urban mobility while empowering both men and women through economic opportunity.