Electric vehicle ( EV ) Industries

[HAIDER]

PM Shehbaz urges nationwide shift to EVs to cut fuel costs

BR Web Desk
Published April 6, 2026

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stressed the need to promote environment-friendly electric vehicles (EVs) nationwide, saying the shift could help conserve foreign exchange reserves amid rising global oil prices, state-run APP reported.

Addressing a ceremony of provision of eco-smart EVs to the Islamabad Capital Traffic Police, the prime minister said such energy saving initiatives should be emulated by all the law enforcement agencies and provinces.

Also read: Energy conservation: markets, malls to close at 8pm across country except Sindh

He observed that a total of 15 electric vehicles were provided by the interior ministry, which ran on batteries without using petrol and oil, while another batch of vehicles would be inducted soon.

Terming the initiative a significant one, the prime minister said these steps would cast positive impacts upon the country’s foreign reserves.

The provision of eco-smart electric vehicles has been a part of the government’s energy-saving policy, according to the APP.

The work on fuel economy and electric vehicles policy had kickstarted prior to the current regional crises, resulting in the procurement of the vehicles, it reported.

yeah bhosri ka ...bajli ki car loga ...electricity ki price double karda ga ... people already crying bills over domestic solar generation.

 

[atmi_bum]

It’s a long-term solution. You need to build the infrastructure to handle it, like charging stations. Plus, is the electric grid robust enough to handle the increased demand?

 

[HAIDER]

It’s a long-term solution. You need to build the infrastructure to handle it, like charging stations. Plus, is the electric grid robust enough to handle the increased demand?

Adhocism is the 3rd world dilemma

 

[PakFactor]

Adhocism is the 3rd world deliemma

 

[Respect4Respect]

The current account is already bleeding, and the state is so broke it is talking about taxing cow dung. You cannot solve that by giving more rupees to foreign manufacturers.

At this point a tax on human waste would probably generate more revenue than a dung tax...especially if they offered a 25% discount for anyone constipated for three days straight.

Jokes aside my friend said if they provided a proper service like picking up dung from our farms and spreading it on our fields, then it might actually be worth paying for.

 

[ACE OF HEARTS]

EVs are expensive.

For mass adoption of cars, which lies between the Rs 2.5 million - 5 million price gap,
Incentives must be given to the general public:

GST must be 0%.

Income tax exemption to buy EVs:
Millions of people are still not paying taxes. Hence, non-filers should be allowed to buy EVs, without any repercussions / additional charges.

Just like giving cheap loans for housing purposes, similar cheap loans should should be given for EV adoption, upto Rs 3 million:
A. 3 percent for first five years
B. 5 percent for next five years
C. KIBOR + up to 250 bps for the remaining financing tenor

 

[Fatman17]

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan's EV market is transitioning from a nascent stage to growth, aiming for 30% new sales by 2030, driven by high fuel costs and policy incentives. While two/three-wheelers dominate, EV sales surged by 191% in 2025 with ~90,000 units. Key players include Audi, BMW, and Sazgar-Haval, with affordable options like the Dongfeng Box (Rs 55 Lakh) emerging.
Key Trends and Market Drivers (2026 Outlook)

• Market Growth: The Pakistani electric vehicle market is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.2% between 2025 and 2031.
• Government Targets: The government's goal is for 30% of all new vehicle sales to be New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) by 2030, and 100% by 2060.
• Adoption Drivers: High petrol prices are pushing users toward electric vehicles.
• Gender Participation: Women constitute approximately 20% of EV users in Pakistan, a notable shift from their <1% share in traditional auto users.

Key EV Players and Models

• Luxury/Premium: Audi offers the e-Tron, e-Tron Sportback, e-Tron GT, and RS e-Tron GT. BMW offers the iX, iX3, and i4.
• SUV/Passenger: The MG ZS EV is a popular option (PKR 10.1 – 10.5 million).
• Affordable Segment: Dongfeng Box Smart 330 (approx. Rs 55 Lakh) is entering the market for broader accessibility.
• Hybrids: Haval HEV H6 is assembled locally by Sazgar-Great Wall Motor.

Challenges and Infrastructure

• Constraints: High upfront costs, limited financing, and limited charging infrastructure.
• Infrastructure: While public charging networks are slowly expanding, most charging currently occurs at home or in offices.
• Range Anxiety: Still a significant factor among consumers for inter-city travel.

Future Outlook
The market is expected to see a diversified approach where hybrids act as a bridge technology alongside pure electric vehicles. The two- and three-wheeler segments are expected to be the primary drivers of volume in the short term, alongside rapid growth in electric buses/trucks.

 

[313Ghazi]

and the state is so broke it is talking about taxing cow dung

OMG.

That explains a tiktok I watched. I didn't get it at the time.

 

[ghazi52]

Soaring costs, fuel shortage fears drive Pakistan to electric motorbikes​

Reuters
April 7, 2026
Days after Iran effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the start of US and Israeli attacks in late February, two Pakistani electric motorbike (EV) outlets 1,400 km away found themselves overwhelmed with enquiries.

Haseeb Bhatti, who retrofits petrol-fuelled bikes with battery-powered motors in the northern city of Rawalpindi, said his March sales surged 70 per cent. For Ali Gohar Khan, who owns a 7-year-old electric motorbike retail franchise with branches across Pakistan, the recent surge in sales is the steepest ever.

“People have this fear that maybe in the near future, they might not get petrol at all,” Khan said.

The Middle East crisis has sent global fuel prices soaring, compounding pain for Pakistanis already hit by inflation and a post-pandemic economic downturn. As the nation imports nearly all its oil through the Strait of Hormuz, shortage rumours took hold despite the government’s supply assurances.

 

[ghazi52]

Workers assemble an electric motorcycle at D.S. Motors Pvt. Ltd, in Hyderabad, Pakistan April 1, 2026. —Reuters

About 40pc of Pakistan’s petrol is used to fuel the 30 million two-wheelers and three-wheeled auto-rickshaws that dominate roads in a country where cars are a luxury and public transport is inadequate.

Industry officials and analysts expect the crisis to supercharge an EV rush in Pakistan, which would stand out from a broader regional surge for the availability of cheap and plentiful solar power to charge e-bikes.

A switch would also help lower oil imports and bolster foreign exchange reserves, and slash emissions in the world’s most polluted country in 2025.

After the government’s 18pc price hike last week, a Pakistani household earning the median wage now pays 31pc of its daily income for a litre of petrol —more than all but 22 of 139 countries tracked by geopetrolprices.com and Our World in Data.

“My monthly salary is 30,000 rupees. I can barely cover expenses for my family of six with this. How am I supposed to fill my bike?” said Zahoor Ahmed, a security guard in Karachi.

From working professionals to college students, more riders have been turning to EVs in recent months. Last year, higher petrol prices drove up EV sales nearly threefold to 90,000 units or 5pc of all two-wheelers sold, data from consultancy Renewables First showed.

 

[ghazi52]

Generous subsidies and interest-free loans​

A typical electric two-wheeler costs around 250,000 rupees - more than half the annual per capita income for Pakistanis and 56pc more than the popular petrol-fuelled Honda CD 70, which costs about 160,000 rupees.

In February, the government’s Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) plan came into force, providing a subsidy for a fifth of the price and interest-free loans for the rest. The plan targets electric bikes and auto-rickshaws.



Sumaiya Rehman, 35, who works at a booking office of a constructon project, starts her electric motorcycle in Hyderabad, Pakistan April 2, 2026. —Reuters

It has already received about 270,000 applications —nearly seven times PAVE’s first phase target ending June — Finance Ministry adviser Adnan Pasha told Reuters, adding that the government aimed to finance 2 million EVs over five years and fund the plan with existing levies on fuel sales.

 

[ghazi52]

Chinese players at heart of EV shift​

Like its solar revolution, Pakistan’s embrace of electric two-wheelers is built on Chinese brands. Scooter makers such as Yadea and Jinpeng, and e-bikes assembled locally with batteries and components from firms including AIMA and Sunra are expected to meet rising demand.

Chinese EV giant BYD, which has partnered with Pakistan’s HUBCO Green to build charging stations across the country, said it plans to support broader electrification to eventually sell more passenger cars.



Workers assemble parts of electric motorcycles on the production line at the ZYP Technology’s facility in Lahore, —Reuters

Pasha said the government wants local companies to build charging stations and said he expected the 45pc cut to charging stations’ power tariffs last year to continue boosting adoption.

 

[ghazi52]

However, financial incentives could come under pressure if the war drags on, while a lack of local expertise and hard-to-scale charging infrastructure are other risks for Pakistan’s EV transition, said Ahtasam Ahmad, energy finance lead at Renewables First.

Good servicing networks are critical as EVs are more sensitive to potholes, which are common on roads. In India, riding e-scooters on poorly maintained roads has caused major service backlogs.

“When Chinese players flood the market, it may look promising on paper, but with virtually no after-sales service infrastructure, they risk eroding consumer confidence in the technology,” Ahmad said.

 

[ustaad]

EVs are expensive.

For mass adoption of cars, which lies between the Rs 2.5 million - 5 million price gap,
Incentives must be given to the general public:

GST must be 0%.

Income tax exemption to buy EVs:
Millions of people are still not paying taxes. Hence, non-filers should be allowed to buy EVs, without any repercussions / additional charges.

Just like giving cheap loans for housing purposes, similar cheap loans should should be given for EV adoption, upto Rs 3 million:
A. 3 percent for first five years
B. 5 percent for next five years
C. KIBOR + up to 250 bps for the remaining financing tenor

There are no loans for housing in Pakistan