The Punjab government has decided to allot 100 electric vehicles to women through a balloting process while 200 of these taxis would be given to male drivers.
The provincial government has revised the distribution formula for its Electric Taxi Scheme as for the first time in the province’s history, women will also receive a dedicated share in the environment-friendly initiative.
In addition, corporate taxi operators - who were earlier set to receive 1,000 vehicles – would now be given 800 vehicles instead.
Initially, the plan was to provide only 100 electric vehicles to individual citizens and 1,000 interest-free vehicles to commercial corporate drivers. However, according to the Punjab Minister for Transport, the revised distribution formula would allow a greater number of vehicles to be allocated at the individual level.
Last year, Punjab government announced plans to launch an electric taxi service across the province, implementing a model similar to China's successful EV taxi program.
The Punjab Transport Department began preliminary work on the program, engaging with multiple electric vehicle manufacturers. Both the Deewan Group and National Radio & Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) have expressed interest in participating in the project.
Implementation will proceed in phases, with initial operations focusing on Lahore and divisional headquarters before expanding to other major cities across Punjab. The service will operate around the clock, providing continuous transportation options for residents.
