CM Punjab E-Taxi Scheme 2026 gives unemployed youth in Punjab a practical way to earn a living with an electric taxi on interest-free installments. The Punjab government launched the scheme to cut city pollution and create self-employment at the same time, starting with a pilot of 1,100 electric taxis in Lahore.
If you hold a valid driving licence and want to drive for a living, this guide covers who can apply, what the government pays, which documents you need, and how the process works. Warning first: the last window has closed, so trust no agent who claims he can still submit your form.
Quick overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | CM Punjab E-Taxi Scheme 2026 (Chief Minister Punjab Interest-Free Electric Taxi Scheme) |
| Launched by | Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif |
| First phase vehicles | 1,100 electric taxis |
| Pilot city | Lahore |
| Financing | Interest-free installments over 5 years |
| Government subsidy | Rs 4 billion, as announced at the launch |
| Down payment help | Government pays 50% of the down payment for men, 60% for women |
| Women’s quota | 30% of taxis reserved for women drivers |
| Official portal | e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk |
| Official helpline | 042-111-333-267 |
| Last application window | Closed on 5 October 2025 |
| Next application window | Not officially announced |
Latest update
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz formally launched Pakistan’s first E-Taxi Scheme on 26 February 2026, handing keys to the first beneficiaries in Lahore. It sits under the province’s Vision Transport 2030 plan for electric urban transport.
All 1,100 taxis in this phase belong to Lahore. Later phases may reach other cities, but no city list or date has been officially announced.
Portal status checks in October 2026 showed registration closed, with the last date recorded as 5 October 2025 and 22,882 applications received (22,728 individuals and 154 fleet owners). If you already applied, track your application on the official portal. If you have not, wait for a fresh announcement and pay no one who promises to reopen it.
What the scheme offers
The scheme is a financing package, not a free car giveaway. Selected drivers get an electric taxi through a bank loan with no markup, repaid in installments over five years; the government covers the markup cost.
The government also covers registration and token tax costs under the scheme terms. Each taxi carries a panic button linked to the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, and taxis are registered with ride-hailing platforms such as inDrive and Yango, so a driver can take rides through an app rather than waiting at a stand all day.
Solar-powered charging stations were launched alongside the scheme in Lahore.
Punjab scheme versus Sindh Pink Taxi
The Punjab E-Taxi Scheme is open to men and women drivers in Punjab, with a 30% quota for women. The Sindh Pink Taxi Scheme is a separate, women-only scheme run by Sindh, with its own portal and rules. Punjab residents cannot apply through Sindh, and Sindh residents cannot apply through Punjab, so keep the two apart when you search for updates.
Eligibility criteria
The portal terms set clear conditions. You must meet all of them, not just most of them.
- You must be a resident of Punjab with a valid CNIC.
- You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application, and not older than 60 years at loan maturity.
- You must hold a valid, computerized LTV or commercial driving licence. Learner permits are not accepted, and the licence is verified through the driving licence database.
- You must have no bank default on your record.
- Individual applicants must be registered with a ride-hailing company.
- Fleet owners must apply for a minimum of 10 e-taxis.
Women drivers apply under the same conditions, with a higher down payment share and the reserved quota.
Vehicle and financing terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total taxis in Phase 1 | 1,100 (1,000 for fleet owners, 100 for individual drivers) |
| Individual allocation | 70 for men, 30 for women |
| Vehicle cost limit for bank financing | Up to Rs 6.5 million per vehicle |
| Applicant equity share | 30% of the vehicle cost |
| Government share of down payment | 50% for men, 60% for women |
| Markup | 0% (interest-free) |
| Repayment period | 5 years |
| Registration and token tax | Covered by the government under scheme terms |
| Safety feature | Panic button linked to Punjab Safe Cities Authority |
| Ride-hailing registration | inDrive and Yango |
| Monthly installment amount | Not officially announced |
| Exact vehicle models | Not officially announced |
One point needs care: early reporting mentioned a different subsidy total, but the Chief Minister announced Rs 4 billion at the formal launch, and that is the figure used here. Monthly installment amounts vary across unofficial pages, so this guide quotes none; your installment depends on your own offer letter.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Pilot project approved in principle | May 2025 |
| Last application window closed | 5 October 2025 |
| Formal launch by Chief Minister | 26 February 2026 |
| Keys handed to first beneficiaries | 26 February 2026 |
| Next application window | Not officially announced |
| Expansion to other Punjab cities | Not officially announced |
| Balloting or selection result date for new applicants | Not officially announced |
If you applied in the last window, the portal alone shows your real status. Any new draw date circulating on WhatsApp or Facebook is fake until the Transport Department publishes it.
How to apply (when a window is open)
The portal currently shows registration closed, so treat these steps as preparation for a future window.
- Open e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk and read the current notice before you fill anything.
- Create your account with your CNIC number and a mobile number registered in your own name.
- Choose your applicant type: individual operator or fleet owner.
- Fill the form with personal, licence, and ride-hailing details exactly as they appear on your documents.
- Upload scanned copies of your CNIC, driving licence, and supporting documents.
- Submit the form and save the tracking number shown on screen.
- Wait for verification. If eligible applications exceed the available taxis, selection is done through electronic balloting.
- If selected, complete the bank and loan process, pay your share of the down payment, and collect the vehicle as directed by the portal.
Manual or paper applications are not accepted. Anyone who offers to submit a paper form on your behalf is not connected to the scheme.
Required documents
- Valid CNIC (original and copy)
- Valid computerized LTV or commercial driving licence
- Proof of Punjab residence (as required on the portal)
- Ride-hailing company registration proof (for individual applicants)
- Business or fleet documents (for fleet owners applying for 10 or more taxis)
- Bank record showing no default, as verified during processing
- Passport-size photographs, if the form asks for them
Keep your CNIC and licence valid; an expired document is the most common and most easily fixed reason an application stalls.
Verification and selection process
- Online submission on e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk during an open window.
- CNIC and Punjab residence check against official records.
- Licence verification through the licence database. Learner permits fail here.
- Bank record check for defaults.
- Ride-hailing registration check for individuals, and fleet size check for fleet owners.
- Electronic balloting if eligible applications exceed the available taxis.
- Bank loan processing and down payment settlement for selected applicants.
- Vehicle handover, ride-hailing registration, and activation of the panic button link.
The Punjab Information Technology Board built the portal with the Transport and Mass Transit Department. The reported support email is support@etaxi.pitb.gov.pk and the helpline is 042-111-333-267; verify both on the portal before sharing personal details.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Real cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Portal shows “Registration Closed” | The last window ended on 5 October 2025 | Wait for a new official announcement; do not pay an agent |
| Application rejected for licence | Learner permit or expired licence | Get a valid LTV or commercial licence, then apply in the next window |
| Application stuck at verification | CNIC, residence, or bank record mismatch | Correct the record at NADRA or your bank |
| No status update after applying | Selection happens only after a window closes | Check the portal with your tracking number |
| Agent asks for a fee to apply | Fraud; the official process charges no application fee through agents | Report the number and apply only on e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk |
| Confusion with Sindh Pink Taxi | Two different provincial schemes | Punjab residents use the Punjab portal only |
| Taxi used only for private trips | Scheme vehicles are for public taxi service | Use the taxi for ride-hailing service; misuse can lead to seizure |
Reports in 2026 said the Transport Department began verifying vehicles after some recipients used scheme taxis only for private trips. The taxi is a working vehicle for public service, not a subsidised private car.
Fraud warning
Applying through the official portal is free of agent charges, and no officer will ask you for a fee on JazzCash, Easypaisa, or bank transfer to approve your application. Fake forms are already circulating because the scheme is popular and the real window is closed.
Never share your CNIC photo, OTP, bank PIN, or portal password with anyone who contacts you about this scheme; the government never asks for these on a phone call. If a page asks for money to reserve a taxi, close it and check e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk. If you already paid someone, keep the receipt and report it to the FIA Cybercrime helpline and your local police station.
Tips for applicants
- Renew your CNIC and driving licence before the next window opens, so verification does not stop on an expired document.
- Register with a ride-hailing platform now; it is part of the eligibility check for individuals.
- Clear any bank default and keep your bank record clean; a default blocks the loan even if everything else is fine.
- Save every portal receipt and tracking number, with screenshots.
- Learn the charging points in Lahore before you take the taxi.
- Read the loan offer letter line by line before you sign; only your letter is binding.
Related Punjab schemes
Related Punjab schemes, each with its own portal and deadline: the CM Punjab Asaan Karobar Scheme (interest-free business loans), the CM Punjab E-Bike Scheme (students), the Punjab Green Tractor Scheme (farmers), and the CM Punjab IT Internship (2,400 paid positions). Apply separately.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is CM Punjab E-Taxi Scheme 2026?
CM Punjab E-Taxi Scheme 2026 is a Punjab government programme that gives electric taxis to selected drivers and fleet owners on interest-free installments over five years. The first phase covers 1,100 taxis in Lahore under Vision Transport 2030, with government subsidy support and ride-hailing registration included.
2. Who can apply for the Punjab E-Taxi Scheme?
Punjab residents aged 21 at application and up to 60 at loan maturity can apply, provided they hold a valid computerized LTV or commercial driving licence and have no bank default. Individual applicants must be registered with a ride-hailing company, while fleet owners must apply for at least 10 taxis.
3. Is the Punjab E-Taxi Scheme really interest-free?
Yes, the financing carries 0% markup. The government covers the markup cost, so the driver repays the vehicle cost in installments over five years. The government also pays 50% of the down payment for men and 60% for women, with the applicant covering the remaining equity share.
4. How many taxis are available in the first phase?
The first phase has 1,100 electric taxis, all for Lahore as a pilot. Of these, 1,000 are for fleet owners and 100 are for individual drivers, including 30 reserved for women drivers. Expansion to other Punjab cities has been discussed but is not officially announced yet.
5. What is the last date to apply for the E-Taxi Scheme?
The last application window closed on 5 October 2025, and portal checks in October 2026 still showed registration closed. No new last date has been announced. Applicants should watch e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk for the next window instead of trusting dates shared on social media.
6. How do I apply online for the Punjab E-Taxi Scheme?
When a window is open, visit e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk, create an account with your CNIC, choose individual or fleet applicant type, fill the form, upload your CNIC and driving licence, and submit. Save your tracking number. Paper forms are not accepted, and no agent can submit the form for you.
7. What documents are needed for the E-Taxi Scheme?
You need a valid CNIC, a valid computerized LTV or commercial driving licence, proof of Punjab residence, and ride-hailing registration proof for individual applicants. Fleet owners need fleet and business documents. Your bank record is also checked, so any default must be cleared before applying.
8. How are drivers selected under the scheme?
Applications pass CNIC, residence, licence, and bank record checks first. If eligible applications exceed the available taxis, selection is done through electronic balloting. Selected applicants then complete bank loan processing, pay their down payment share, and receive the vehicle for ride-hailing service.
9. Is the Punjab E-Taxi Scheme the same as the Sindh Pink Taxi Scheme?
No, they are different schemes from different provinces. The Punjab scheme is for men and women drivers in Punjab, while the Sindh Pink Taxi Scheme is women-only and run by Sindh. Each has its own portal and rules, so Punjab residents must apply only through the Punjab portal.
Conclusion
CM Punjab E-Taxi Scheme 2026 is a solid chance for a licensed Punjab driver to own an electric taxi without paying markup, with the government sharing the down payment and covering registration and token tax costs. The catch is timing: the last window closed in October 2025, so get your licence, CNIC, bank record, and ride-hailing registration ready, and watch e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk for the next announcement.
Sources: The News, “Maryam launches country’s first E-Taxi scheme” (26 February 2026) — https://www.thenews.pk/print/1401717-maryam-launches-country-s-first-e-taxi-scheme; Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department, official portal — https://e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk/; Punjab Transport Department — https://transport.punjab.gov.pk/; Rozana Career, “CM Punjab Meri Gari Scheme 2026: E-Taxi Status and Eligibility” — https://rozanacareer.com/cm-punjab-meri-gari-scheme; ApplyKar, “CM Punjab E-Taxi Scheme 2026 Eligibility and Apply” — https://applykar.pk/cm-punjab-e-taxi-scheme-2026-eligibility-apply-online/
This guide is based on Punjab government announcements, the official E-Taxi portal terms as reported in October 2026, and press coverage of the 26 February 2026 launch. Details may change with new notifications. Verify eligibility, dates, and application status at e-taxi.punjab.gov.pk and transport.punjab.gov.pk before applying. This site is not affiliated with the Government of Punjab.
