20,000 yellow cabs(bolon and mehran) will be distributed in eight months.

 

The Punjab cabinet on Thursday formally approved Yellow Cab Scheme and the draft bill for amendment in Section 17(4) of Government Servants Housing Foundation Act, 2004.
As per the approval of the Scheme, 20,000 vehicles will be distributed. 40 per cent quota has been allocated for South Punjab compared to its 31 per cent population. It has been observed that like other projects of the provincial government, the Scheme will also be unique with regard to transparency and computerised balloting for the distribution of vehicles will be held at divisional level in the presence of electronic media.
The cabinet also granted approval to the draft bill for amendment in Section 17(4) of Government Servants Housing Foundation Act, 2004. The sections states, ‘All payments made by a member shall be updated annually at the rate of mark up, as may be determined by the Board from time to time.’
Under the Scheme, 2500 vehicles will be distributed among the winners of the draw every month and the process of distribution of 20,000 vehicles will be completed in eight months.
Persons having intermediate or equivalent academic qualification will be eligible to apply. The application forms will be available from all branches of Bank of Punjab and the website of the Transport Department and of the Bank. The successful applicants will have to make 20 per cent down payment at the time of delivery and the remaining amount in easy monthly instalments. Loan facility at extremely low mark-up will also be offered from Bank of Punjab.
Advertisement will be published on July 15 regarding details of Yellow Cab Scheme after which the process of receipt of applications will be started. Committees, will also include Akhuwat representatives and students, will be formed for the scrutiny of the particulars of successful applicants, while Patwaris and Tehsildars will have nothing to do with the verification process.
The meeting was chaired by CM Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board Dr Javed Ghani gave a detailed briefing regarding website of various departments for the promotion of e-governance in the province.
Addressing the meeting, the CM said the Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme for the elimination of poverty and unemployment from the province and solid measures had been taken in the new budget for generating maximum job opportunities for educated youth, and the Yellow Cab Scheme would not only help reduce unemployment but would also promote local industry besides providing better transport facilities to the masses.
Expressing his views regarding e-governance, the CM said promotion of e-governance was the need of the hour for the solution of peoples’ problems and improving efficiency of government departments and a comprehensive strategy had been adopted for this purpose.
Referring to the website of the Punjab Police, he directed that it should be developed on such lines, which should be helpful in redressing the grievances of the common man, monitoring efficiency of police stations and bringing about a positive change in the Thana culture.
He directed that a comprehensive plan should be evolved regarding the website with the consultation of Law Minister, Secretary Law and Inspector General Police and presented in the next cabinet meeting. Secretary Finance Tariq Bajwa while giving a briefing about Yellow Cab Scheme informed that 16,000 Suzuki Mehran and 4,000 Suzuki Bolan would be distributed under the scheme.
Dr Javed Ghani informed the cabinet about the website of CM’s Secretariat and Punjab Police, and the measures taken for promotion of e-governance. (Courtesy: The Nation)