The Punjab government has decided to provide scooties (motorcycles) to all female teachers, lady polio workers, women health workers and working women of all government and semi-government institutions across the province.
These scooties will only be given to permanent women employees during the new financial year 2022-23. This year, 160,000 scooters will be provided to the female employees on a monthly instalment of Rs2,500 to Rs3,000 depending on the employment status. The first phase of distribution of these scooters will be completed between August and November this year.
Applications will be accepted from aspiring female employees in August, after which scrutiny will begin.
Adviser to the Chief Minister Malik Abrar Ahmed that the Punjab government has allocated funds in the provincial budget for the project.
He said that no country can develop without the active participation of women. “Women have to face serious problems when they go to work from home. They have problems with buses and wagons. Pick and drop service has also become more expensive. That is why the PML-N government has decided to give scooties to women employees across Punjab. If the number of women increases, more scooters will be provided,” he said.
This project will benefit working women and they will be able to come to offices safely from home comfortably and easily.
Leader of teachers’ unions Shafiq Bhalwalia and Basharat Iqbal Raja welcomed the decision and demanded that male teachers should also be given motorcycles in easy instalments. It is the responsibility of the government to provide facilities for the employees.