After taking a step to electrify the public transport in the province, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has instructed the Provincial Transport Minister to launch an electric taxi service across the province, drawing inspiration from China’s successful electric taxi system.
The Transport Department is actively exploring partnerships with electric vehicle manufacturers to implement this initiative. Key players like the Deewan Group and NRTC have shown keen interest in collaborating.
The initial phase will focus on launching the service in Lahore and major divisional headquarters, with plans for subsequent expansion to other cities. This 24/7 service aims to provide citizens with an affordable and eco-friendly transportation option.
While officials acknowledge that the introduction of e-taxis may slightly impact employment in traditional taxi services, they believe it will significantly improve access to cost-effective transportation. This project is a significant step towards the government’s goal of promoting sustainable urban mobility in Punjab.
Electric Buses in Punjab
Following Lahore, the Punjab government has also initiated the procurement of electric buses for Faisalabad and Bahawalpur. This move aims to address critical transportation challenges, including a shortage of quality public transport, severe traffic congestion, and environmental concerns such as smog.
The initiative emphasizes sustainable development by introducing environmentally friendly electric buses to the public transportation sector in these cities. To ensure the highest quality, the procurement process will rigorously pre-qualify firms based on stringent criteria.
Eligible firms must demonstrate a minimum net worth of $200 million and an annual turnover of $600 million specifically from bus production. They must have at least five years of experience manufacturing buses (7.5 meters and above), with a proven track record of producing an average of 7,500 buses annually over the past three years.
Furthermore, firms must have sold at least 300 pure electric city buses (7.5m to 13m) in the last four years and successfully completed at least three similar projects involving the supply of 100 or more electric buses (7.5m to 13m) within the past five years.”**
