By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs), and announced that government employees up to BPS-16 would be provided electric bikes on easy installments.
The meeting was informed that the government aimed to shift 30 percent of vehicles to electric power within the next five years, a move expected to save approximately US$ 4.5 billion in fuel imports.
The prime minister directed relevant authorities to accelerate ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting EV adoption across the country. He emphasized that, given the evolving regional situation and future energy demands, the transition to electric vehicles would not only reduce the import bill but also contribute significantly to environmental protection and energy security.
The prime minister also stressed the need for transparency in the provision of subsidies for electric motorbikes under the National EV Policy. He instructed officials to further expedite the implementation of the scheme.
During the briefing, officials informed the prime minister that 72 manufacturing certificates have so far been issued for electric motorcycles and rickshaws, along with four certificates for electric cars. Additionally, 123 applications have been received for the installation of EV charging stations nationwide.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Dr. Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Awais Ahmed Leghari, and Ahsan Iqbal, along with Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Jameel Ahmed, and other senior officials.
