KEY POINTS
- The e-taxi project aims to cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel reliance
- The government will provide subsidies to support the rollout to encourage adoption
ISLAMABAD: In a major step toward a cleaner, greener future, Pakistan’s Punjab government has approved a pioneering e-taxi pilot project, set to roll out 1,100 electric cabs supported by solar-powered charging stations across the province.
The decision came during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, where the province’s eco-friendly transport ambitions took centre stage.
The meeting reviewed key public transit projects, including the feasibility of the Yellow Line mass transit system, and gave in-principle approval for the financial model backing the e-taxi initiative.
The project envisions a modern electric cab service that not only reduces carbon emissions but also lowers fuel dependency through a sustainable network of solar-based e-charging stations.
Plans are underway to integrate these stations at existing petrol pump locations, making green energy more accessible for drivers.
“This project isn’t just about electric vehicles—it’s about building a cleaner future,” said a senior official at the meeting.
The government will also offer subsidies to support the e-taxi rollout, ensuring affordability and uptake among local operators.
The CM also ordered a review of new mass transit routes in Gujranwala, directing planners to design routes based on public convenience, and called for immediate construction of the Yellow Line between Jinnah Terminal and Harbanspura.
In a related move, Maryam Nawaz Sharif demonstrated her administration’s humanitarian focus by ordering free treatment for Pakistani patients who returned from India amid rising bilateral tensions without completing their medical care.
With these decisions, Punjab positions itself as a leader in sustainable urban mobility—a vision powered by innovation, clean energy, and people-centric planning.
