KP to launch e-bike scheme for female students, working women

PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch an electric-bike scheme for female students and working women across the province, with the first phase expected to begin shortly.
Under the scheme, eligible college and university students and working women will be provided e-bikes on merit.
The decisions were taken at the 57th meeting of the provincial cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi. Information Minister Shafi Jan later briefed the media on the meeting’s decisions.
The cabinet approved the establishment of Umarzai tehsil in Charsadda district and constituted a committee comprising representatives of the Board of Revenue, Local Government, Planning and Development and Finance departments to formulate criteria for future changes in administrative units. The committee will examine proposals concerning divisions, subdivisions, tehsils and sub-tehsils in light of public interest and administrative requirements.
The cabinet also approved, in principle, holding the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) from 2027. A committee was constituted to examine the technical and legal aspects of the proposed transition.
According to the briefing, ETEA currently has 60 registered computer-based testing centres in KP and other parts of the country, with a daily testing capacity of 26,000 candidates. The agency has conducted more than 1,300 tests for around 500,000 candidates since shifting to computer-based testing in September 2024.
The cabinet approved a transport monetisation policy for judicial officers and decided to forward Joint Resolution No. 240 of the Provincial Assembly to the federal government. The annual report of the KP Revenue Authority for 2024-25 was also approved.
For the KP Flood Resilience Project, the cabinet allowed the relevant department to approach the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) for financing in accordance with Islamic banking principles.
It also approved Rs1bn for rehabilitation of flood-affected infrastructure, including Rs500 million specifically for Chitral districts.
The cabinet approved an enhanced compensation package of Rs10m for Shaheed Maulana Mirza Jan of Wana and formed a committee to prepare proposals for universal registration of three-wheelers in the province and measures to regulate their traffic in urban areas.
It also approved the appointment of two commissioners to vacant posts in the KP Right to Public Services Commission and amendments to the West Pakistan Registration Rules, 1929.
The cabinet approved 46 contract-based posts for service delivery centres in Lakki Marwat, Tank, Buner, Karak, Battagram, Charsadda and Abbottabad, besides a Rs5m grant for the District Bar Association, Khyber.
In the health sector, it approved rationalisation and redeployment of full-body scanners in various hospitals and funds for eye-care equipment at District Headquarters Hospital, MTI Bannu. It also approved bridge financing for completion of the Khyber Institute of Child Health.
The cabinet approved a transparent procedure for disposal of the remaining timber harvested under the now-defunct Dry Standing and Wind Fallen Trees Policy.
It also approved the nomination of two educationists to the KP Private Schools Regulatory Authority.
Additional funds were sanctioned to meet increased customs duties, taxes and import charges for procurement of 54 additional buses for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit system.
Funds were also approved for archery, judo and volleyball teams for the 14th South Asian Games scheduled to be held in Peshawar.
The cabinet further endorsed the Gavi 6.0 Vaccine Portfolio Optimisation and Prioritisation initiative concerning the hexavalent vaccine, PCV-14, DPT booster and hepatitis-B birth dose.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed concern over the health of former prime minister Imran Khan and alleged that the federal government had failed to fully implement Supreme Court directions regarding his treatment.
He called upon the courts to ensure effective implementation of their orders, saying disregard for judicial directions undermined the authority of the judiciary.
On development projects, the chief minister directed departments to accelerate implementation of schemes under the Annual Development Programme, particularly those expected to deliver tangible benefits to the public.
He called for an outcome-oriented approach, urging officials to overcome bureaucratic hurdles and adopt innovative approaches where necessary.
Mr Afridi also announced that the provincial government would shortly launch an electric-bike scheme for female college and university students and working women. He said the bikes would be distributed strictly on merit.
He said an electric-rickshaw scheme would subsequently be introduced and directed officials to expedite the electric-bus scheme for divisional headquarters.
The chief minister said the shift towards electric transport would help promote a cleaner and greener environment and expressed hope that the current financial year would bring peace, development and prosperity to the province.