Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif along with PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif chaired a high level meeting about transport facilities and announced several relief measures for the students besides start of hybrid bus services in major cities of the province, reported 24News HD TV channel. During the meeting, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif directed the Punjab government that 20000 electric and petrol motor bikes should be distributed among students on easy instalments.

He said that government should share financial burden of the students and pay the interests.

Maryam Nawaz endorsed the suggestion and said that Punjab government will give 19,000 petrol and 1,000 electric bikes to the students free of interest.

Bikes will be given to students with traffic license across Punjab in collaboration with Bank of Punjab. Interest will be paid by Punjab government. Students will have to pay 5000 per month instalments only. The monthly installment of petrol bike will be 5000 and e-bike instalment will be 10000. After the draw in May, delivery of the bikes will be started in the same month.

While 50.50 percent quota will be reserved for male and per mile students, while in villages, 70 percent quota will be reserved for male students and 30 percent quota will be for female students. Applications process will start before Eid.

Meanwhile, hybrid diesel bus services will will be started across Punjab including 300 buses for Lahore, 78 for Rawalpindi, 100 for Multan, 110 in Faisalabad while 42 buses will be purchase for Bahawalpur.

Senior Provincial Minister Marryum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Uzma Bukhari, Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Secretary Transport, Finance, Higher Education Department, Chairman PITB, Bank of Punjab president and others attended the meeting.

Reporter: Rao Dilshad