ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to provide electric bikes to government employees from Grade 1 to Grade 16 under a new self-financing scheme aimed at improving transportation facilities and promoting environmentally friendly commuting.
The sources told that the project will facilitate easy and clean energy modes to employees and will help overcome travel problems as well as environment pollution.
According to the sources, under the proposed scheme, electric bikes can be acquired by the government employees without bearing any extra interest or markup charges. The payment for the bikes will be made through salary reductions so as to ease the burden on employees’ pockets.
The officials from the Ministry of Interior stated that the government was taking measures to conserve energy and facilitate clean energy solutions.
It has been clarified that applications will be invited for the scheme through respective departments, while more details would be shared shortly.
Moreover, a ‘first come, first serve basis’ has been taken into consideration in lieu of balloting. In other words, early applicants shall enjoy priority over other applicants.
Sources have pointed out that the scope of the scheme could be enlarged in future to accommodate armed forces personnel and provincial government employees as well.
Govt considers transferring BISP to provinces
Meanwhile, the federal government is considering transferring the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to provincial governments as part of a broader review of administrative responsibilities,
Khel Das Kohistani, Minister for Sport in the federal cabinet, told a private television channel in an interview that in the wake of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, there is now much power that has been vested with provinces. He further added that social welfare payments should be run and managed by the provinces.
He informed that the suggestion had been made by some provinces as well, and the idea was now being discussed in detail. He further clarified that no decision has yet been taken on this issue, and once the discussions have concluded, the federal government would consult coalition partners before taking a decision.
He said that one of the objectives of the federal government through this step is to make the provinces capable enough to run such programmes and address their issues.
It should be noted here that the decision is in no way meant to terminate the programme; rather it would only be transferred to the provincial governments.
