Punjab E-Bike Scheme Distribution Moves to December
Distribution under the Punjab e-bike scheme will now begin in December, after earlier planning to start on November 5. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced the change at a laptop distribution and Honhaar Scholarship ceremony in Jhelum on Tuesday, ProPakistani reported.
Maryam said the delay was caused by the large number of electric bikes being manufactured. The government had planned to begin handing over the bikes on November 5, but has now revised the schedule.
Punjab e-bike scheme: why the date moved
Speaking at the Jhelum ceremony, Maryam said the first phase of distribution would now begin in December instead of November 5. She explained that the delay resulted from the large number of electric bikes being manufactured for the scheme.
The Punjab government launched the second phase of its electric bike scheme for students in September 2026. It plans to provide electric bikes to eligible applicants, with the aim of making daily travel easier for students. Feature Pakistan reported the original November 5 date when the distribution plan was announced.
Students who applied for the first phase will now have to wait at least a few more weeks. The government has not said how many bikes will be handed over in the first phase, or on which date in December distribution will begin.
The scheme is large. The government plans to hand over 100,000 electric bikes to students, with a larger share reserved for female students, and more than 1.2 million registrations and over 600,000 applications have already been received. Successful applicants are picked through balloting. In September, the chief minister approved an expansion to more than 125,000 e-bikes, scrapped the down payment entirely and fixed the monthly instalment at around Rs3,000, with the province paying the interest and insurance on every bike. Each bike costs about Rs199,000, of which the government pays a Rs90,000 subsidy, and the student repays Rs109,000 in 36 monthly instalments of Rs3,028. Selected students also receive a free helmet, a safety rod and two days of riding training.
Training and helmets for student riders
Maryam urged students who had applied for the bikes to complete proper riding training and wear helmets. She said the electric scooter scheme aimed to make daily travel easier for students, particularly those who face difficulties commuting to their educational institutions.
She also stressed road safety, advising students to ride responsibly and follow traffic rules. The message fits with wider enforcement in Punjab, where unpaid e-challans now double after ten days and 450,000 vehicles have been declared token tax defaulters.
What the Jhelum ceremony covered
The ceremony in Jhelum was held to distribute laptops and Honhaar Scholarships, and Maryam used the visit to address students directly. At the same event, she also responded to corruption claims by a political opponent, saying she would answer them through her work.
The e-bike scheme is one of several student support programmes run by the Punjab government, alongside laptop distribution and the Honhaar Scholarship. Students who applied for the bikes will now wait until December for the first phase to begin. No exact date in December has been announced yet.
The scheme was first due to start distribution on November 5. Maryam also responded to corruption claims at the Jhelum event. Unpaid e-challans in Lahore now double after ten days. Punjab has declared 450,000 vehicles as token tax defaulters.
Frequently asked questions
When will e-bikes be distributed now?
The first phase will begin in December. No exact date has been announced.
When was distribution due to start?
On November 5.
Why was the date changed?
Because of the large number of electric bikes being manufactured for the scheme.
What did Maryam advise students?
To complete proper riding training, wear helmets and follow traffic rules.
When did the scheme’s second phase launch?
In September 2026.
