ECC okays Rs9 billion subsidy to promote EV across Pakistan

In order to promote eco-friendly transport and youth empowerment, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has greenlit a Rs9 billion subsidy plan to distribute electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders across Pakistan.

The initiative, set to be launched soon by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to make electric mobility more accessible — starting with a large-scale distribution of 40,000 e-bikes in the first phase.

Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the ECC approved the scheme targeting students and low-income earners. 

Under the plan 116,000 electric bikes will be provided free of cost to meritorious students from government colleges. 3,170 electric rickshaws and loaders will also be distributed in two phases. 25% quota will be reserved for women and 10% for commercial users. Citizens from across Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, will be eligible to apply.

The project will be implemented in two phases. Phase One will provide 40,000 e-bikes and 1,000 rickshaws/loaders. Applications will be open nationwide following the PM's formal launch. The goal is to promote sustainable mobility while supporting students and small-scale workers with reliable, cost-effective transport.

The ECC also approved a Rs30 billion technical grant for settling claims under the Hawala Remittance Scheme, with directions for the State Bank and Finance Ministry to determine the payment mechanism. An in-principle bailout grant of Rs2 billion for Quaid-e-Azam University, with a directive for the university to present a financial self-sufficiency plan.