Pakistan grants licences to 57 manufacturers of electric vehicles

Pakistan has granted licences to 57 manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs), Radio Pakistan reported on Tuesday. 

The government move is aimed at transitioning to green transport solutions and beating climate change. 

In 2019, the government of Pakistan approved an ambitious National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP) with the goal of electric vehicles comprising 30 percent of all passenger vehicle and heavy-duty truck sales by 2030, and an even more ambitious target of 90 percent by 2040. For two- and three-wheelers, as well as buses, the policy set a goal of achieving 50 percent of new sales by 2030 and 90 percent by 2040. 

“The government is focusing on expanding local EV production, with licenses issued to fifty five manufacturers for two and three-wheelers, and two for the assembly of four-wheelers,” Radio Pakistan said in a report. “A plan is under consideration for establishing charging stations, including fast chargers and battery swapping stations.”

Under the new EV policy, the report said, free registration and exemption from annual token fees and toll taxes would also be offered to consumers. 

“There is a plan to create at least one electric vehicle zone in each province, including Islamabad,” Radio Pakistan added. 

A Senate Standing Committee last week criticized a lag in the production of EVs in Pakistan, saying only 60,000 had been produced by this year against a target of 600,000.