Govt pushes to scale up EV adoption

Stakeholders raise concerns about high upfront EV costs, limited charging infrastructure

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ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) on Friday held a high-level meeting with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and senior officials. The goal was to identify ways to scale up EV adoption and reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels.

The meeting was chaired by Secretary MoCC&EC Aisha Humera Moriani. Discussions focused on expanding EV charging infrastructure, promoting large-scale motorcycle retrofitting, and exploring financing options to make EVs more affordable and accessible.

These efforts support Pakistan's climate goals, which include achieving 30% EV adoption by 2030, as outlined in its 2021 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

"Inadequate EV charging infrastructure, especially in urban areas, remains a major barrier," Moriani said. "Without major investments, the shift to electric mobility will be difficult."

Participants stressed the need for strong policy support to convert Pakistan's large fleet of fuel-powered vehicles — especially two- and three-wheelers — to electric. Pakistan has over 37 million fuel-powered vehicles, including nearly 29 million petrol motorcycles.

Retrofitting these motorcycles could offer a fast, cost-effective way to cut emissions. "Standardised retrofitting is a scalable solution, especially in the motorcycle segment that dominates Pakistan's transport landscape," said Muhammad Asif Sahibzada, Director General (Environment & Climate Change) at MoCC&EC.

Industry representatives raised concerns about high upfront EV costs and limited charging stations, particulaarly on highways and in cities. They called for incentives and infrastructure development to support market growth.

To improve affordability, the ministry is exploring partnerships with financial institutions to offer consumer-friendly EV financing.

The government is also pushing to shift from imported Completely Built Units (CBUs) to locally assembled Completely Knocked Down (CKD) vehicles.

"Encouraging CKD production will reduce costs, support domestic industry, and create green jobs," Moriani said.

The ministry highlighted the need for a regulatory framework for motorcycle retrofitting to ensure quality, safety, and legal clarity for providers and consumers.