E-Taxi Scheme Punjab — Apply for Electric Taxi (2026)

Q: Can I drive an E-Taxi for any ride-share platform after I get the vehicle?

Yes. The scheme does not lock you to a specific platform. You can drive for Careem, Uber, InDrive, Bykea or operate as an independent registered taxi. You can also switch platforms during the loan period — the financing is vehicle-based, not platform-based. The only requirement is to remain commercially active to support the loan repayments.

Q: Can I use the E-Taxi for personal use, or only commercial?

Personal use is allowed but the vehicle is registered for commercial taxi operations and subject to commercial vehicle taxation. The scheme assumes you will operate commercially most of the time — if usage logs indicate primarily personal use over an extended period, the loan subsidy can be reviewed and potentially clawed back at the next annual review.

Q: Is the E-Taxi battery warranty long enough to cover the financing period?

Most approved models come with a 5 to 8 year battery warranty from the manufacturer, which covers more than the 60-month financing period. After warranty expiry, battery replacement is the major long-term cost — typically Rs. 800,000 to Rs. 1,400,000 for these vehicles. Plan for this as a major capital expense roughly 7-10 years after purchase, after the original loan is fully paid off.

The E-Taxi Scheme Punjab is a CM Punjab initiative to put electric vehicles into commercial taxi service across major Punjab cities. Announced in 2024 alongside the E-Bike Scheme, the programme aims to subsidise electric cars for selected taxi drivers and ride-share operators in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and other large cities. The pilot phase covers approximately 2,000 electric vehicles in its initial cycle.

Who qualifies as an E-Taxi driver

The scheme targets existing taxi and ride-share drivers rather than new entrants. To qualify, you must:

Hold a valid commercial driving licence (LTV-Light Transport Vehicle or higher).
Be between 25 and 55 years of age.
Have at least three years of documented taxi or ride-share driving experience.
Be currently registered with a ride-share platform (Careem, Uber, InDrive, Bykea) or operate as a registered taxi.
Have a clean traffic record — no major violations in the past two years.
Hold a valid Pakistani CNIC.
Maintain a current Punjab domicile.
Have no active bank loan defaults.

The experience requirement is verified through ride-share platform records (which include each driver's onboarding date and trip history) plus traffic department records of any previously-registered commercial vehicles in your name. Drivers operating informally without ride-share platform registration may struggle to demonstrate the required experience.

Women drivers receive priority allocation — a specific quota is reserved for female applicants to encourage women's participation in the commercial transport sector. The quota currently sits at around 30%.

Vehicle types in the E-Taxi programme

The scheme covers electric vehicles from a curated list of manufacturers with verified parts supply chains and service networks in Pakistan. Currently approved models:

BYD Atto 3 — compact electric SUV. Market price approximately Rs. 9,500,000; scheme price around Rs. 6,500,000.
MG ZS EV — small electric crossover. Market price approximately Rs. 8,800,000; scheme price around Rs. 6,000,000.
Deepal SL03 — electric sedan, locally assembled. Market price approximately Rs. 9,000,000; scheme price around Rs. 6,200,000.
Honda E:Spec — Pakistan-assembled electric variant (specific models vary by availability year).

The scheme price requires a down payment of approximately Rs. 800,000 to Rs. 1,500,000 depending on the model, with the remainder financed through Bank of Punjab over 48 to 60 monthly instalments. Monthly instalments typically run Rs. 85,000 to Rs. 110,000 — substantially higher than the E-Bike scheme but matched against the higher earning potential of commercial taxi operation.

Bank of Punjab financing for the E-Taxi scheme carries a concessional interest rate of approximately 6% per annum — not zero like the E-Bike scheme, but well below commercial vehicle loan rates of 18-22%.

Financing and payment structure

The E-Taxi financing has three components you need to understand:

Down payment — paid upfront at vehicle collection. Typically Rs. 800,000 to Rs. 1,500,000 depending on model and term length chosen.
Monthly instalment — debited from your Bank of Punjab account each month. Includes principal repayment and the 6% interest component.
Insurance and registration — covered in the down payment for the first year. From year two, you pay comprehensive insurance separately (typically Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 120,000 annually for these vehicles).

The 48-month financing option carries higher monthly instalments but lower total interest. The 60-month option has lower monthly payments but higher total interest paid over the loan life. Most drivers choose 60 months because the lower monthly burden matches typical taxi earnings more comfortably.

Throughout the financing period, the vehicle is registered jointly in your name and Bank of Punjab's name. After the loan is fully repaid, ownership transfers entirely to you and the joint registration is removed.

Documents needed for application

The E-Taxi application requires extensive documentation given the commercial-vehicle and large-loan nature:

CNIC of applicant — original and photocopy.
Commercial driving licence — LTV or higher class, valid for the next two years minimum.
Punjab domicile certificate — current and valid.
Ride-share platform registration certificate — from Careem, Uber, InDrive or whichever platform you operate with — covering at least the past three years.
Recent ride statements from your ride-share platform showing active trips and earnings over the past six months.
Six months of bank statements showing ride-share earnings credited to your account.
Traffic violation history — printout from the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department or via the online portal showing your driving record over the past two years.
NTN certificate — required given the loan size. New applicants without NTN can register during the application process.
Two guarantors with their CNICs — creditworthy individuals (typically salaried professionals) willing to co-sign your loan.

Application and selection process

Pre-application verification
Visit any Bank of Punjab branch with your driving licence and ride-share platform record. The branch officer confirms whether you meet baseline eligibility and whether E-Taxi applications are currently open. The scheme runs in limited windows — check before preparing the full application.
Submit formal application
Complete the E-Taxi application form at the branch. Attach all required documents and pay the Rs. 5,000 non-refundable application fee. The application is logged with a tracking number.
Credit assessment
Bank of Punjab reviews your application for repayment capacity — your historical ride-share earnings, traffic record, existing financial obligations, and guarantor strength. This stage takes two to four weeks for complete applications.
Selection by ranking
Eligible applications are ranked by a composite score based on driving experience, earnings stability, traffic record cleanliness and guarantor strength. The top-ranked applications up to the cycle's vehicle allocation count are selected. This is merit-based, not lottery, unlike the E-Bike or Green Tractor schemes.
Vehicle collection and registration
Selected applicants visit the manufacturer dealer indicated in their allocation letter with the down payment. The dealer arranges joint registration with Bank of Punjab, completes warranty paperwork and schedules delivery. Total time from selection to vehicle delivery is typically four to eight weeks.

E-Taxi — driver questions

Can I drive an E-Taxi for any ride-share platform after I get the vehicle?

How much can I realistically earn driving an E-Taxi?

Earnings depend heavily on hours worked, city and platform. Full-time drivers in Lahore on Careem or Uber typically report Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 180,000 monthly gross earnings, less platform commissions of 15-25%. After charging costs (roughly Rs. 4,000-6,000 per month versus Rs. 25,000-40,000 for petrol equivalents) and the monthly loan instalment, net take-home is typically Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 90,000 per month for full-time operation.

What about charging — can I charge the E-Taxi at home?

Yes, home charging is possible but slow (10-12 hours from empty using a standard household outlet). Most E-Taxi drivers install a wall-mounted fast charger at home (cost Rs. 60,000-90,000) that reduces full charge time to 4-6 hours. Public DC fast-charging stations in Lahore and other major cities can charge to 80% in 30-45 minutes, useful during the day between rides. Charging infrastructure is growing rapidly but still uneven across Punjab.

What happens to my vehicle if I default on the loan?

Bank of Punjab can repossess the vehicle if you miss three consecutive monthly instalments or six total within any twelve-month period. The joint registration makes repossession legally straightforward. After repossession, the vehicle is auctioned to recover the outstanding amount; if the auction proceeds are less than the outstanding loan, you remain liable for the shortfall, and your guarantors are pursued first.

Can I use the E-Taxi for personal use, or only commercial?

Is the E-Taxi battery warranty long enough to cover the financing period?

Final note on operating an E-Taxi

The E-Taxi Scheme makes electric commercial vehicles accessible to drivers who could otherwise never afford one — a brand-new electric SUV is genuinely outside the budget of typical ride-share drivers without the subsidy plus concessional financing. For drivers willing to commit to the financing terms, the operational economics are favourable: charging costs are roughly one-tenth of petrol costs, maintenance is significantly cheaper, and the vehicles are mechanically simpler with fewer failure points.

The trade-offs are real and worth understanding before applying. Charging time means you cannot work the same continuous hours as a petrol-vehicle driver — overnight charging is necessary, and intra-day fast charging adds 30-45 minute pauses to your work day. Range anxiety is a real factor on longer trips. Battery replacement is a future cost most drivers underestimate at purchase. None of these are deal-breakers but they should inform your decision rather than be discovered after commitment.

The vehicle models, prices, financing terms and quota structures described here reflect the scheme's structure in early 2026. The E-Taxi programme is still in pilot phase and many details are evolving — verify current terms at Bank of Punjab and on the Punjab government portal before applying.