Electric vehicles by 2030

The good news is that the government is encouraging the use of electric cars in the country in place of the present fuel driven ones. The PM’s Adviser on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam has briefed the media about a new electric vehicle policy under which Pakistan aims to raise to about 30 per cent the share of electric vehicles on the roads by 2030. This will help cut oil consumption but more importantly play a part in reduction of air pollution, particularly in Punjab province where smog has become quite a big problem. Vehicle emissions play a major role in air pollution and in the past all attempts to try and check the quality of vehicles on the roads have yielded limited results. By and large, we need to adopt better and more efficient technologies like electric-powered vehicles to deal with the problem instead of trying to run after poorly maintained vehicles.

While electric cars are an attractive alternative, the technology is still an expensive one and can only be successful if the local industry plays a part in introducing it here. For us to achieve the ambitious target set in terms of the number of electric cars on the road, the government would have to give a number of incentives to car makers on the one hand and achievable targets on the other. What we have seen in the past is that while the industry is quick to grab the incentives, it usually lags in reaching the targets set for it. Take for example the indigenisation programme that the government has been trying to have implemented for the past thirty odd years. Not much has come out of it. This mistake should not be repeated.  While it is always good to adopt new technologies, a proper groundwork will have to be laid to ensure their success. Otherwise, it will remain an elusive dream for all.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2019.

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