The federal government is poised to approve Pakistan’s much-awaited National Electric Vehicle (NEV) Policy next week. The draft policy, which has undergone consultations with a range of stakeholders, is now awaiting final approval from the prime minister before being sent to the federal cabinet for endorsement and implementation.
The Ministry of Industries has drafted the policy with ambitious targets, aiming for over 30% of new vehicles in Pakistan to be electric by 2030. To incentivize this transition, the policy proposes financial subsidies to make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable. These subsidies include Rs50,000 for electric motorcycles and Rs200,000 for electric three-wheelers (rickshaws), with a total subsidy allocation of Rs4 billion. This initiative is part of Pakistan’s broader push to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change.
Furthermore, the policy outlines measures to enhance EV infrastructure, including the establishment of a nationwide network of charging stations. This is expected to support the growth of electric mobility, ensuring that EV users have access to convenient and accessible charging points across the country.
In a recent related meeting, Haroon Akhtar Khan, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant, met with a delegation from COMSATS to discuss the progress of electric vehicle technology, as well as ongoing efforts to retrofit motorcycles to be electric. Key figures in attendance included Saif Anjum, Secretary of Industries and Production, Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, and Khuda Bakhsh Ali, CEO of the Engineering Development Board.
Mr. Akhtar highlighted the significant economic and environmental benefits of electric vehicles, noting that the transition to EVs would align with the government’s vision of a cleaner, more resilient economy. He emphasized that electric vehicles are integral to Pakistan’s future sustainable transportation model, which will not only help reduce air pollution but also contribute to energy savings.
The NEV policy reflects Pakistan’s commitment to adopting clean energy technologies and reducing its dependency on fossil fuels, with an eye on both environmental sustainability and job creation in the emerging green economy. The policy is expected to play a key role in shaping the country’s future transport infrastructure and creating a market for electric vehicles and related technologies.