KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced a major project to provide 2.1million free homes to flood-affected families and supporting women’s transport by distributing EV bikes every year, according to reports.
During a press conference, Sindh’s Minister for Information and Transport, Sharjeel Inam Memon, shared details of the plan. He said the government would build 2.1 million homes for people who lost their houses in the devastating 2022 floods, and also launch a program to provide pink electric scooters to women each year.
The homes, which are being given free of cost, are part of a promise made by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to rebuild the lives of those impacted by the natural disaster.
These homes will be registered in the names of women from each family to strengthen their role and ownership within the household.
To further promote women’s freedom and eco-friendly transportation, the government will also distribute pink EV scooters annually.
So far, around 8,000 women have applied for the scheme. Only those with valid driving licenses will be eligible, and the procurement process for the scooters has already begun.
To help women learn how to ride and maintain these scooters, the government is setting up training centres in major cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Benazirabad, and Mirpurkhas. These centres will offer free training to women of all ages.
In the first phase of the project, 1,000 electric scooters will be handed out next month through a lottery system.
The broader aim of this initiative is to provide women with a safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly mode of transport.
In addition, the government plans to launch an electric taxi service starting June 2025, which is expected to create employment opportunities across the province.