Meeting discusses swift EV tech adoption

A high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister's Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan, was held on Friday to discuss the advancement of electric vehicle (EV) technology and the retrofitting of motorcycles in Pakistan.

The meeting brought together key officials, including Ministry of Industries and Production Secretary Saif Anjum, Comsats Executive Director Nafees Zakaria and EDB CEO Khuda Bakhsh Ali. The discussions focused on accelerating the adoption of EV technology, particularly through converting the existing petrol-powered motorcycles to electric bikes. Haroon Akhtar underscored the need to transition towards electric mobility, citing both economic and environmental imperatives.

Quoting data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, he noted that approximately 28.7 million motorcycles were running on petrol, which resulted in billions of rupees in fuel costs each year. He emphasised that electrifying the two-wheelers could substantially reduce fuel costs and help lower Pakistan's carbon footprint. Haroon Akhtar highlighted that the initiative aligned with the prime minister's vision for a Green Pakistan, which promoted eco-friendly technologies.