ISLAMABAD – Over the much hyped issue of Electric Vehicles Import andManufacturing in Pakistan, PTI government takes important decision
The government is looking to issue a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) tofacilitate manufacturers of electric vehicles and parts to carry out theelectric vehicle (EV) policy.
This was confirmed by Malik Amin Aslam, Prime Minister’s adviser on ClimateChange, who said that the SRO will empower the manufacturers to implementthe EV policy. He added that the Ministry of Climate Change and FederalMinistry of Industries are collaborating on offering incentives to themanufacturers and related traders.
Recently, the government approved Pakistan’s first-ever electric vehiclepolicy, and the SRO seems like the next step in implementing the changes.
The government aims to transition 30% of all cars in the country toelectric by the end of the coming decade. The policy was passed afterclearing several hurdles and aims to transform the entire auto sector whilelooking to boost the economy and help the consumers.——————————
Malik Amin has stated that the conversion from fuel-based engines toelectric ones will help cut the oil import bill by $2 billion. The EVs willalso help consumers in cutting their fuel costs with motorbike seeing fuelcosts go down by 60%.
Read Top Stories
The EVs will also help consumers with maintenance costs as EVs haverelatively less maintenance costs because the only major cost will be theelectric battery. Malik Amin added that EVs would help the environment asthey will help curb greenhouse emission from transportation – the largestemitter of said gases in Pakistan.
On the business side, the EV policy will help create substantial investmentopportunities in the country which will help boost the economy. Some ofthese opportunities include establishing charging stations, producingbatteries for the vehicles, and conversion kits to convert fuel-based carsto electric powered.
There have been reports that a company based in Karachi has created aconversion kit and there are further reports that multiple Chinesecompanies are looking to set up plants in the country to produce electricbatteries. The government too is looking to establish a research center tostudy the electric vehicle industry.
While global auto giants are making the switch to electric-based mobilityin developed countries while Pakistan looks to join the list, the localautomakers have criticized the EV policy. Although, the government hasstated that it will still move ahead and no hurdles will be tolerated.
