NAROWAL: Female teachers in the Sialkot district will be provided with e-bikes with the support of the business community.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali told Dawn that as per the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a comprehensive plan had been devised with the help of the local business community for the training and provision of driving licences to teachers.

She said the administration had invited applications from female teachers of Sialkot for the provision of this facility. She said the last date for submitting applications was Aug 10. She said that 650 female teachers had already submitted their applications for obtaining electric bikes.

Ms Saba said that the age limit to obtain e-bikes had been set at 35 years and the bikes would be distributed through a computerised draw. She said that those female teachers who were working as regular teachers or on a contract basis were eligible for the e-bikes.

District admin plans provision of e-bikes with the help of local business community

She said that widows, divorced and those teachers who were the sole breadwinners of their house would be prioritised.

The DC said that on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the district administration had gifted e-bikes to 14 female teachers with the help of donours.

She said that with the help of e-bikes, female teachers would be able to perform their professional responsibilities in a better way. She said the bikes would help control environmental pollution.

Teachers Maryam Iqbal and Hania Daniyal said that the idea of providing dignified and safe travel facilities to female teachers by the district administration was commendable.

They said that increasing inflation and public transport constraints were becoming a worry for working women. They said that women teachers faced harassment on a daily basis while traveling. They said that the plan had won the hearts of teachers.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2025