Govt eyes 30% EV target for 2030

SAPM directs EDB to explore cooperation with EU on technical training, capacity building

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has set a target of increasing the share of electric vehicles (EVs) to 30% by 2030, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan said, as he sought European Union (EU) cooperation on EV skills development, technical training and capacity building.

"Pakistan has set a target of increasing the share of electric vehicles to 30% by 2030. Achieving this transition requires more than introducing new vehicles; it demands a skilled workforce, technical expertise and the development of a supporting industrial ecosystem," the adviser said during a meeting with an EU delegation.

He noted that several companies had entered Pakistan's EV market, creating a growing need for trained technicians and engineers. He stressed that timely investment in skills development would prepare Pakistani youth for emerging employment opportunities. "Pakistan missed important opportunities during earlier phases of the global automobile revolution, but we cannot afford to miss the electric vehicle revolution," he remarked.

The adviser said the government's forthcoming Auto Policy, expected in the coming weeks, would place particular emphasis on EVs. Work was also underway on a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Policy, he added. He said the transition could reduce the country's oil import bill and create opportunities for local value addition.

He directed the Engineering Development Board (EDB) to engage with the EU delegation and explore practical areas of cooperation.

The EU delegation expressed interest in exploring cooperation.