The Punjab government has launched a province-wide verification campaign to check whether beneficiaries of its E-Taxi Cars scheme are following the programme’s conditions. Authorities warned that vehicles being used for private purposes instead of commercial transport could be confiscated.
The action follows an inquiry by the Punjab Transport Department into the Chief Minister’s Interest-Free E-Taxi Scheme. Officials said the investigation found several cases where subsidized E-Taxi Cars were allegedly being used as personal family vehicles instead of operating as taxis.
According to the Transport Department, some beneficiaries also removed official government branding and decals from their vehicles. Officials believe this may have been done to conceal the cars’ connection to the government-backed scheme.
Following these findings, the provincial government has started a verification drive across Punjab. Every beneficiary who received an electric taxi under the programme will be inspected.
Authorities said the audit will determine whether recipients have complied with the terms of the interest-free financing scheme. The campaign is intended to ensure that public funds are being used for their intended purpose.
Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said the government has complete records of all beneficiaries. He added that officials can verify how each vehicle is being used.
The minister warned that E-Taxi Cars found parked at homes and used only for personal transportation could be repossessed. However, he clarified that action would only be taken against beneficiaries who violated the agreement by failing to operate the vehicles commercially.
The Chief Minister’s Interest-Free E-Taxi Scheme is one of the flagship projects under Punjab’s Transport Vision 2030 and the Green Punjab campaign. The initiative aims to modernize public transport while reducing environmental pollution.
The programme was designed to replace conventional fuel-powered taxis with electric vehicles. It also seeks to create employment opportunities for unemployed youth, women, and low-income families through commercial transport services.
As part of the project, the Punjab government introduced 1,100 electric taxis, with Lahore selected as the first city for implementation.
The government allocated between Rs3.5 billion and Rs4 billion in subsidies for the initiative. The Bank of Punjab also provided 100 percent interest-free loans that can be repaid in flexible installments over a maximum period of five years.
Beneficiaries were required to contribute around 30 percent of the vehicle’s cost. The government supported the remaining down payment, while additional subsidies were offered to female applicants to encourage greater participation.
The scheme also includes several incentives. These include free vehicle registration, exemption from token tax, GPS tracking systems, panic buttons, official government branding, and extended warranties for batteries and motors covering up to 300,000 kilometres.
Officials said the electric vehicles can travel approximately 250 to 300 kilometres on a single charge.
During the pilot phase, around 700 vehicles were allocated to fleet operators working with approved ride-hailing platforms. Another 400 taxis were distributed to individual drivers, including a dedicated quota for women.
The Punjab government said it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward misuse of public funds. Officials added that the verification campaign is intended to protect the integrity of the programme, recover vehicles from violators, and ensure the initiative continues creating jobs while promoting clean transportation across the province.
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