Punjab • Education

Punjab Just Got 432,000 E-Bike Applications in 48 Hours. CM Maryam’s Phase 2 Is Already Bigger Than Phase 1

By Life in Pakistan Editorial

11 September 2026

Punjab received 432,000 online applications for the CM Electric Bike Scheme in the first 48 hours after Phase 2 was opened, the Punjab Transport Department has confirmed. The figure is more than three times the total number of bikes offered under Phase 1, which was 125,000. The applications are being submitted through the official portal at bikes.punjab.gov.pk, where the deadline is 4 October. The Punjab government has set up a processing pipeline that is currently handling more than 108,000 completed applications, with more than 265,000 applications in queue. Successful applicants will receive the bikes within six weeks of completing the application process.

What the demand signal means

The 432,000 applications in 48 hours is, on its face, an extraordinary demand signal. Phase 1 of the CM Electric Bike Scheme was launched in July 2026 and offered 125,000 bikes. Phase 2, opened on 9 September 2026, has received 432,000 applications in the first 48 hours alone. The implication is that the demand-supply mismatch is large: the Punjab government is offering some number of bikes in Phase 2 — the exact number has not yet been announced — and the demand for those bikes is multiple times the supply.

The Punjab Transport Department, led by Secretary Transport Imran Sikander Baloch, has confirmed that the applications are being processed through a queue, and that completed applications are being processed at a rate of more than 100,000 per day. The processing includes eligibility checks, domicile verification, university verification, and licence verification.

Who is eligible in Phase 2

The eligibility criteria for Phase 2 are the same as for Phase 1:

• Punjab domicile or Punjab CNIC.
• Regular student of a public or private degree college or university recognised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
• Minimum age 18 years.
• Learner’s permit or motorcycle driving licence.
• One student per family — only one applicant per household is eligible.

These criteria are designed to ensure that the bikes go to students who would otherwise struggle to afford their own transport, and that families with multiple students are not over-represented. The Punjab government has not announced whether the eligibility criteria will be tightened for later phases, but the 432,000-applications-in-48-hours figure suggests some form of rationing will be needed.

How the bikes are being delivered

Successful applicants will receive the bikes within six weeks of completing the application process. The Punjab CM has directed the Transport Department to ensure that the distribution is completed within that window, with no avoidable delays. The first batch of bikes is expected to be delivered in the first half of October, ahead of the academic year-end for most universities.

The bikes themselves are LFP-battery-powered electric bikes, designed for urban and peri-urban commuting. Each bike comes with a free helmet, a free safety rod, and two days of riding training. The government bears the cost of the interest on the loan and the cost of the insurance, which means the monthly payment for the student is fixed at Rs 3,028.

The financial structure

The financial structure of the scheme is unchanged from Phase 1. The student pays Rs 3,028 per month. The Punjab government pays the interest and the insurance on the loan. The total cost to the Punjab government per bike is roughly the same as in Phase 1, and is funded from the provincial annual development programme.

For the Punjab government, the scheme is a managed subsidy on student transport. The objective is twofold: to reduce the cost burden on student households, and to accelerate the adoption of electric two-wheelers in the province. The 432,000-applications-in-48-hours figure suggests the demand side of the first objective is being met strongly. The second objective — electric-two-wheeler adoption — is harder to gauge, because the eligibility criteria are restricted to students, and the take-up rate among non-students will be driven by the broader auto policy, not the e-bike scheme.

What this means for the broader e-bike market

The Phase 2 demand signal is relevant to the broader e-bike market in Pakistan. The Punjab government has signalled, through the size of the demand, that the market for affordable electric two-wheelers is large and underserved. The private-sector e-bike importers and assemblers will be looking at the Phase 2 numbers as a market-sizing signal for their own product launches.

The broader auto policy approved by PM Shehbaz this week — which proposes to phase down the customs duty on conventional cars by up to 80 per cent and to abolish three federal taxes on EVs — is consistent with the e-bike scheme direction. The two policies work together to accelerate EV adoption across the vehicle categories, from two-wheelers to four-wheelers.

What students should know

For students who have not yet applied, the deadline is 4 October. The application portal is at bikes.punjab.gov.pk. The application requires a Punjab domicile or CNIC, a current enrolment certificate from an HEC-recognised college or university, a learner’s permit or motorcycle licence, and proof of age (18 or older). The application is free, and the Punjab government has confirmed that no agent or middleman is required.

For students who have already applied, the processing queue is currently being worked through at a rate of more than 100,000 applications per day. The Punjab Transport Department has confirmed that successful applicants will be notified through the portal and through SMS, and that the first batch of bikes will be delivered in the first half of October.

The bottom line

Punjab received 432,000 applications for the CM Electric Bike Scheme in the first 48 hours after Phase 2 opened. The figure is more than three times the total number of bikes offered under Phase 1. The application deadline is 4 October. The first batch of bikes is expected to be delivered in the first half of October. The monthly payment for successful applicants is Rs 3,028, with the Punjab government bearing the interest and insurance costs.