164,000 citizens registered in Punjab Green Credit Program

70 to 80 percent of applications received under program are related to electric vehicles

164,746 citizens have been registered so far in Punjab government's Green Credit Program, while 14,647 citizens have obtained Green Credit on various environmental measures.

70 to 80 percent of applications received under program are related to electric vehicles, while relatively less interest has been shown in measures related to water conservation, water recycling at service stations and plastic waste management.

According to data obtained by Express News, among registered citizens 46,365 belong to Lahore while 114,913 belong to other districts of Punjab. Among registered individuals 144,036 are men and 20,656 are women. According to provided data total number of these categories is 20,013 less than total number of registered citizens.

Under Green Credit Program Green Credits are being given on 38 environmental measures including various sectors like reduction in air pollution, water conservation, land improvement, better waste management, environmental awareness and protection of biodiversity.

According to Task Team Leader of program Dr. Muhammad Wajid Ejaz most interest has been shown by citizens in acquiring electric bikes and electric cars. He says that use of electric vehicles can help in reducing smoke emissions in transport sector.

In program facility of Green Credit is also available for acquiring electric rickshaws so that owners of traditional rickshaws can adopt environment-friendly ride while maintaining their employment, however relatively few applications have been received for this measure.

According to Dr. Wajid Ejaz there is need to increase attention of citizens and business institutions on measures of water conservation. Under program facility of 50 thousand rupees has been kept on installing rainwater harvesting system and further 50 thousand rupees on arrangement to make collected water reusable.

He says that measures are also being taken to clean used water at service stations and make it reusable, however considerable progress has not been seen in this sector. Similarly out of about 100 to 150 institutions working in sector of plastic waste recycling so far only three recyclers have been registered in program.

Under program so far 7,908 citizens have obtained Green Credit on measures for improvement of air quality, 2,867 on land improvement, 1,689 on waste management, 1,492 on environmental awareness, 279 on water conservation and effective use and 258 on protection of biodiversity. According to these figures most Green Credits have been issued in measures related to air quality while relatively less in water conservation.

Among those who obtained Green Credit also includes Hina Akram working in government department, according to whom she obtained Green Credit three times for running environmental awareness campaign in school, writing thesis related to environment and sharing pictures of smoke-emitting vehicles, whose value is more than 50 thousand rupees.

According to another beneficiary of program Raheel Shaukat he sold petrol-powered motorcycle and bought electric scooter, on which he got 50 thousand rupees Green Credit. He says that after electric scooter runs six thousand kilometers he expects to get further 50 thousand rupees.