LAHORE – The Punjab government has taken an important step to launch the electric taxi (e-taxi) service, by giving initial approval to its financial model. A pilot project with 11 e-taxis will be started soon. It has also been decided to install solar-powered charging stations.
This decision was made during a special meeting led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. She received detailed briefings on public transport projects, including a report on the Yellow Line Mass Transit System. The Chief Minister directed officials to start work quickly on the Yellow Line from Jinnah Terminal to Harbanspura and said that routes should be planned for people’s ease. She also asked for more reports on new routes in Gujranwala.
In the meeting, different parts of the e-taxi project were reviewed. Officials informed that the government will give subsidy for the scheme. The idea of setting up charging stations at petrol pumps was also discussed.
This project was first announced a few months ago. The Punjab government had shared plans to start an electric taxi service across the province, similar to successful e-taxi programs in China. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz gave instructions for this project, and Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan is leading it.
The Transport Department had already started early work and talked to several electric vehicle companies. Deewan Group and NRTC showed interest in joining the project.
ALSO READ >>> >>> Karachi: Sindh installs GPS trackers in 3,391 tankers, 28 dumpers
The service will begin in Lahore and main divisional cities, and then expand to other major areas of Punjab. The taxis will run 24 hours a day to give people easy and regular transport options.
Drivers will be able to get electric taxis through easy payment plans, including down payments and monthly installments. This will help more people become taxi owners.
The project also aims to reduce air pollution and create jobs in the transport sector. However, the government has not yet announced the start date or the prices of the vehicles.
