The Punjab Cabinet meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, on Thursday gave formal approval to the Yellow Cab Scheme. Around 20,000 vehicles would be distributed under the scheme with 40 percent quota allocated to South Punjab against its 31 percent population. The cabinet also granted approval to the draft bill for amendment in Section 17(4) of the Government Servants Housing Foundation Act, 2004.
The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) chairman gave a detailed briefing regarding websites of various departments for the promotion of e-government in the province. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said the Yellow Cab Scheme was a revolutionary step towards reducing unemployment, promoting local industry and providing better transport facilities to the public.
He said that under the scheme, 2,500 vehicles would be distributed among draw-winners every month, hence, the process of distributing 20,000 vehicles would be completed in eight months. He said application forms would be available at all branches of the Bank of Punjab and the Punjab Transport Department website and individuals with intermediate or equivalent academic qualification would be eligible to apply.
Successful applicants would be required to make a 20 percent down-payment at the time of delivery. The remaining amount would have to be paid through convenient monthly installments, Shahbaz said. The Bank of Punjab is offering loans at extremely low markup to help the applicants. The CM said like other projects of the Punjab government, the Yellow Cab Scheme would also be completed in a highly transparent manner.
Committees, including Akhuwat representatives and students, would be formed to scrutinise the particulars of applicants and patwaris and tehsildars would have no role in the verification process, he added. Expressing his views regarding e-government, the CM said promotion of e-government was necessary to solve people’s problems and improve efficiency of government departments. A comprehensive strategy had been adopted to achieve this goal, he added.
Referring to the Punjab Police website, the CM said it must be developed on lines to help redress public grievances, monitor police stations’ efficiency and positively transform the Thana culture. He directed the PITB to evolve a comprehensive plan regarding the website in consultation with the law minister, law secretary and police inspector general and present it in the next cabinet meeting. He said redressing public grievances and providing justice to them was the responsibility of the government and no effort was to be spared in this regard.
Finance Secretary Tariq Bajwa said 16,000 Suzuki Mehrans and 4,000 Suzuki Bolans would be distributed under the scheme. Advertisements would be published on July 15 regarding the details of the scheme after which the receipt of applications would start. Both men and women would be eligible to apply. The distribution process would begin in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rawalpindi from the second day of Eid. Special number plates would be issued to cabs stating the district’s name.
Cabinet approves Yellow Cab Scheme; 20,000 to be distributed
