ISLAMABAD – Government employees up to Grade 16 will be provided with electric bikes on easy instalments, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed that efforts to accelerate the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the country be stepped up.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review the promotion of EVs in the country. “In light of the current regional situation and future needs, promoting electric vehicles will not only reduce the burden of fuel imports but also play a key role in environmental protection and energy security,” he said.
Transparency and Implementation
The premier further directed that transparency be ensured in the subsidy provided for electric motorcycles to low-income individuals under the National EV Policy, and that the implementation of this scheme be expedited.
EV Adoption Progress
The meeting was briefed on ongoing measures to promote EV adoption nationwide. It was informed that 72 manufacturing certificates had been issued for electric motorcycles and rickshaws, and four for electric cars.
Charging Infrastructure
The meeting was further told that a total of 123 applications had been received to date for the establishment of EV charging stations, and plans were underway for 30 per cent of vehicles in the country to be electric within the next five years, which could result in fuel savings of approximately $4.5 billion.
Meeting Attendees
The meeting was attended by federal ministers, including Climate Minister Musadik Malik, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Energy Minister Awais Leghari, and State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with senior officials.
Analysis: A Multi-Pronged EV Push
The government’s decision to offer electric bikes on easy instalments to government employees up to Grade 16 is a significant step in promoting EV adoption. This segment of employees — numbering in the hundreds of thousands — represents a large potential market.
The emphasis on transparency in subsidies for low-income individuals is crucial. The previous fuel subsidy scheme for motorcyclists faced criticism over implementation; the government is signalling that it has learned from that experience.
The target of 30 per cent electric vehicles within five years is ambitious. Achieving it would require not only the provision of EVs but also the widespread availability of charging infrastructure. The 123 applications for charging stations are a start, but far more will be needed.
The fuel savings estimate of $4.5 billion is significant. Pakistan’s import bill is heavily weighted towards oil; reducing that dependence would improve the balance of payments.
The meeting’s participants — including the climate, planning, finance, information, and energy ministers — indicates that the government views EV adoption as a cross-cutting priority.
As the government moves from policy to implementation, the focus will be on ensuring that the easy instalment scheme is accessible, that charging infrastructure keeps pace, and that the fuel savings materialise.
