PM Shahbaz Sharif calls for comprehensive plan to boost electric vehicle adoption

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a key meeting on the use of electric vehicles (EVs), during which he was briefed on the subject.

The prime minister stated that the government is prioritising measures to promote electric vehicles in the country.

He instructed the development of a comprehensive financial model for electric vehicles, highlighting that these vehicles would save valuable foreign exchange by reducing the import of petrol and diesel and are also environmentally friendly.

He also directed consultations with the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan regarding this initiative and called for improvements in the licensing regulations for producing electric vehicles in the country.

The prime minister instructed the presentation of a comprehensive financial model for electric vehicles, stating that they would not only save valuable foreign exchange spent on petrol and diesel imports but also be environmentally friendly.

He also directed consultations with the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan on this matter and called for improving the licensing regulations for manufacturing electric vehicles in the country.

The prime minister emphasised that all provinces, federal units, and stakeholders should be consulted regarding the electric vehicle policy.

He announced that similar to the laptop scheme, electric motorbikes would be distributed to students who perform well in government schools.

Furthermore, he instructed all federal ministries that, moving forward, only electric motorbikes should be purchased for federal government institutions to help save the national treasury.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed that consultations be held with all provinces, federal units, and stakeholders regarding the electric vehicle (EVs) policy.

He announced that e-motorbikes will be distributed to high-performing students in government schools, similar to the laptop scheme.

He also instructed that all federal ministries should exclusively purchase electric motorbikes for federal institutions to conserve the national treasury.

Additionally, the Prime Minister directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to prepare a comprehensive plan for electric public transport in Islamabad.

During the meeting, it was revealed that 49 licenses have been issued for the production of two—and three-wheel electric vehicles since 2022, and 25 factories have already begun production.

The first license for the local production of four-wheel electric vehicles was granted in September 2024, and the first locally-made electric car is expected to be available by December this year.

The country has 45,000 two- and three-wheel electric vehicles and 2,600 four-wheel electric vehicles.

It was also briefed that charging stations for electric vehicles will be prioritised along motorways, GT Road, National Highway 5, National Highway 65, and 70.

Federal ministers, including Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Owais Leghari, and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik, and climate change coordinators, attended the meeting.