LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz, Punjab’s Chief Minister, launched the Chief Minister’s Youth Initiative ‘E-bike programme’ by presenting a symbolic key to a college student from Jampur.
CM Maryam also initiated the Vehicle Inspection Regime for Private Vehicles Project and granted the first e-loader rickshaw manufacturing license to the Nawawa Mobilizers Company.
The Punjab Chief Minister also announced the E-bike Project Phase 2, which includes establishing solarized charging stations in colleges and universities.
CM 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 Nawaz Sharif said students will also be given laptops and added that 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 installments. “For children whose parents are not alive, the requirement to acquire their guarantee has been abolished,” she said.
“We will make Punjab green by shifting to electric transport. We have also signed an MoU for acquiring environment-friendly buses, and 27 buses will arrive by December,” Maryam said.
Regarding smog, Maryam said Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb is working vigorously to eliminate smog and environmental pollution.
The Chief Minister also inquired about the features of three-wheeler E-trons for the ride of women and inspected electric loader rickshaws. She was apprised of E-road washer vehicles and given a briefing about the electric buses project.
The Punjab Chief Minister also attended the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice Alia Neelum.
The governor administered the oath to the LHC Chief Justice. Maryam congratulated Justice Neelum on taking the oath as the first female Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court. She said a female Chief Minister and a female Chief Justice are a unique honor for Punjab.
Presiding over a meeting on digitalization and digital communication in Punjab, the Chief Minister said fast internet was crucial for accessing employment opportunities in e-commerce and freelancing services.
Maryam said digital technology projects should be implemented equally in rural and urban areas. Earlier, the Chief Minister was briefed by Hatem Bamatraf on PTCL’s high-speed internet and improved connectivity for public sector projects.
He appreciated Maryam Nawaz’s Digital Punjab vision and assured her of full cooperation. Maryam also discussed with Bamatraf the expansion and enhancement of telecommunication infrastructure in Punjab to improve internet access in both urban and rural areas. She noted that free Wi-Fi service has been launched in Lahore and will soon be extended to other districts.
In her message on World Population Welfare Day, the Chief Minister said the impact of population growth on resources and the environment needs to be understood.
She said it was critical to maintain a balance between population and resources, which is key to prosperity. She noted, “Natural resources and infrastructure cannot withstand increasing population pressure. The Punjab Socio-Economic Registry is an effort to record accurate data of every household.”
