Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has accorded approval to the provision of free electric scooters to female students and working women, directing the relevant authorities to take immediate steps for launching the initiative. Presiding over a meeting on the proposed scheme, the chief minister directed that a steering committee, technical working group and grievance redressal committee be notified immediately to ensure effective implementation of the initiative. He also directed the authorities to ensure adequate and complete funding for the project.
The chief minister said the initiative would play an important role in promoting women's empowerment, mobility and self-reliance. Providing electric scooters to female students and working women would help ensure safe, affordable and dignified access to education and employment opportunities, he added. Sohail Afridi said the environmentally sustainable electric scooter initiative would contribute to reducing air pollution while promoting women's economic empowerment and participation in the workforce. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, in line with the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, would continue to pursue practical measures focused on investment in people, women's development, self-confidence and empowerment, he added.
The meeting was briefed on various aspects of the initiative. It was informed that, in the first phase, female students and working women in Peshawar would be provided free electric scooters by the provincial government. Eligible beneficiaries would be selected through a computerized balloting process to ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation of scooters.
The meeting was further informed that, in the next phase, the initiative would be expanded to other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Transport Samiullah, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Amir Sultan Tareen, Secretary Transport Muhammad Zubair and senior officials of the Transport Department attended the meeting.