In line with the vision of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to promote modern, affordable and environment-friendly transport, the Transport and Mass Transit Department is considering the introduction of 10,000 electric rickshaws (e-rickshaws) in the provincial capital.
An important meeting in this regard was held in Peshawar under the chairmanship of the Secretary Transport and Mass Transit Department. The meeting was attended by the Director General Science and Information Technology, Managing Director Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority, Chief Executive Officer TransPeshawar and senior officials of the Bank of Khyber.
The participants held detailed deliberations on the phased introduction of e-rickshaws in Peshawar, financial facilitation, technical and operational frameworks, employment generation and the project’s environmental impact.
Addressing the meeting, the Secretary Transport said the chief minister’s vision is to provide citizens with modern, low-cost and eco-friendly travel facilities, which would not only improve urban mobility but also significantly reduce air pollution. He said the e-rickshaw initiative could prove to be a transformative step for Peshawar’s transport system, fully aligned with provincial goals for sustainable development and green transport.
He noted that millions of commuters use transport services in Peshawar on a daily basis, where fuel-based vehicles contribute to air pollution, noise and rising fuel costs. The introduction of electric rickshaws, he added, would reduce dependence on fossil fuels while lowering travel expenses for low- and middle-income groups.
During the briefing, the DG Science and Information Technology informed the meeting that advanced battery technology, smart monitoring systems and a digital registration mechanism would be introduced for e-rickshaws. These measures, he said, would enable effective monitoring of vehicle performance, charging status and route operations, ensuring transparency and efficiency through modern IT solutions.
The Managing Director KP Urban Mobility Authority said the e-rickshaws would be integrated into the overall urban transport system to create a coordinated network with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and other modes of transport. He said the initiative would help address the “last-mile connectivity” issue and provide smoother door-to-door travel for city residents.
The CEO TransPeshawar told the meeting that aligning e-rickshaws with BRT routes and feeder services could help reduce traffic congestion in the city. He added that TransPeshawar would play a key role in providing technical support, route planning and operational management for the project.
Concluding the meeting, the Secretary Transport said the initiative was a continuation of the chief minister’s people-centric and environment-friendly policies, aimed at improving mobility, creating new employment opportunities and steering the province towards green energy. He directed all relevant stakeholders to work jointly and prepare a clear roadmap for early implementation of the project.