When will Punjab govt hold e-taxi scheme balloting?

The Punjab government has announced that the long-awaited balloting for the E-Taxi Scheme 2025 will take place by the end of November, offering a boost to clean and sustainable urban transport in Lahore.

Officials said more than 28,000 completed applications have been received from across the province. The Transport Department has sent the full applicant data to the Bank of Punjab, which will manage the balloting process.

Successful applicants will be contacted to pay the required down payment, and those who meet the deadline are expected to receive their electric taxis within three to four months. The scheme, launched in mid-September, provides a five-year interest-free financing plan for electric vehicles, with a maximum loan limit of Rs6.5 million per vehicle.

In its pilot phase, the scheme will distribute 1,100 electric taxis imported from China. Of these, 700 are earmarked for fleet owners and 400 for individual operators. Among the individual quota, 300 vehicles are reserved for men and 100 for women. Fleet owners must apply for a minimum of ten taxis and register their vehicles with transport network companies, while individual applicants are required to be registered with a ride-hailing service.

The government has set aside a subsidy of Rs3.5 billion to support the programme. Applicants must contribute 30 percent equity towards their vehicle. For men, the government will fund 50 percent of this amount, while for women the contribution rises to 60 percent. Fleet owners will receive subsidies ranging from 30 to 40 percent depending on the size of their fleet.

Each vehicle will be equipped with a tracking system, a panic button, and a battery-and-motor warranty valid for 300,000 kilometres or six years. Vehicles will remain registered in the name of the Bank of Punjab until loans are fully repaid. The government will cover all registration charges and applicable token taxes, while insurance is mandatory and loan repayments will be spread across 57 equal monthly instalments.

Officials said demand for the scheme has been strong, with over 66,000 registrations started across the province. Only residents of Punjab are eligible, and each person may apply for a single vehicle. The Bank of Punjab will verify all applications and may reject those with inaccurate information, weak credit profiles, or other regulatory issues.

Applicants can operate their e-taxis anywhere in Punjab and can seek help or lodge complaints through the Bank of Punjab helpline. With the number of applications far exceeding the available quota, electronic balloting will now determine who gets the first vehicles.