The Federal Government is moving ahead with a new initiative to provide electric bikes to government employees as part of efforts to reduce the country’s fuel import bill amid rising global oil prices. The programme is also aimed at promoting cleaner, environment-friendly transport options while offering financial relief to public sector workers.

According to official sources, the Ministry of Industries and Production has forwarded a summary to the Prime Minister for approval. Once cleared, the scheme will be formally launched. In its second phase, the government plans to distribute around 76,000 electric bikes to eligible applicants.

The Engineering Development Board’s proposal is currently awaiting final approval at the Prime Minister’s Office. Under the eligibility criteria, only those government employees whose salaries are processed through the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) will be able to apply.

Applicants will be required to submit an AGPR verification letter, while no personal or third-party guarantees will be necessary to access the subsidy, according to officials.

The scheme also includes a dedicated quota for journalists. However, they will be offered electric bikes on a self-financed basis, unlike government employees who will benefit from an installment-based facility. A separate quota for female journalists is also expected to be introduced in the second phase.

Under the proposed structure, the government will provide a subsidy of Rs. 80,000 per electric bike. Of this amount, Rs. 30,000 will be used to cover bank interest support, while Rs. 50,000 will be directly transferred to the applicant’s bank account. The subsidy will be released only after the vehicle is registered in the applicant’s name.

Officials noted that the first phase of the programme faced verification issues, as NADRA encountered difficulties confirming some applicants due to technical constraints. Despite these challenges, around 40,000 citizens received subsidies under the initial rollout.