Why Electric Bikes Make Economic Sense in Pakistan | Faraz Zaidi

[_NOBODY_]

Why Electric Bikes Make Economic Sense in Pakistan | Faraz Zaidi​

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Pakistan is at a turning point in mobility. With rising fuel prices, growing economic pressure, and increasing demand for affordable transport, electric vehicles—especially two and three wheelers—are emerging as a powerful alternative.

In this episode of All Things Money, host Fatima Attarwala sits down with Faraz Zaidi, Chairman of Wasl Mobility Modaraba, a company financing two and three wheelers in Pakistan. The discussion explores how electrification is reshaping mobility, why Pakistan’s motorcycle market is central to this transition, and how economics—not just environment—are driving EV adoption.

00:00 Introduction & Guest Overview
00:32 Why Pakistan is a Two-Wheeler Market
01:12 Economics of Electric Bikes
02:08 Cost vs Fuel Savings Explained
05:35 Supply vs Demand in EV Market
09:07 Policy Challenges & Fuel Dependence
14:19 Fuel Price Volatility & Consumer Shift
18:14 Theft, Insurance & Karachi Context
28:28 EV Manufacturing & Localization Debate
33:04 After-Sales & Maintenance Challenges
36:04 Women Mobility & EV Impact
39:03 Environmental Impact of EVs
42:02 Battery Swapping vs Charging
49:10 Policy Bottlenecks & Government Role
51:30 Budget, Taxes & EV Policy

 

[Par 5]

EV bikes and smal cars make economical sense in city use in Pakistan. SUV and Sedans that are PHEV or EV are expensive to buy, more expensive to repair post major accident and a total loss in after sales value not to mention the 'range anxiety' that comes with it in intercity travels. Any vehicle that cannot be driven worry free from Khujerab to Gwadar is simply not worth it. ICE vehicles are here to stay

 

[Bilal]

EV bikes and smal cars make economical sense in city use in Pakistan. SUV and Sedans that are PHEV or EV are expensive to buy, more expensive to repair post major accident and a total loss in after sales value not to mention the 'range anxiety' that comes with it in intercity travels. Any vehicle that cannot be driven worry free from Khujerab to Gwadar is simply not worth it. ICE vehicles are here to stay

How many times do you drive from khunjrab to Gwadar each year to make it a deal breaker use case?

 

[Par 5]

How many times do you drive from khunjrab to Gwadar each year to make it a deal breaker use case?

It is just an example to demonstrate the reliability factor. Frankly speaking I am not even comfortable in driving an EV from Islamabad to Lahore. But hey, that is just me.

 

[RescueRanger]

The Nora has seen some success in Pakistan, much cheaper compared to entry level Suzuki in terms of upfront cost - but poor after sales support and pricier to maintain in the long run.

Sadly, Nora along with the other entry level EV's in Pakistan all face the same after-sales and support pain points that plagued the United Bravo.

 

[onlinpunit]

The Nora has seen some success in Pakistan, much cheaper compared to entry level Suzuki in terms of upfront cost - but poor after sales support and pricier to maintain in the long run.

Sadly, Nora along with the other entry level EV's in Pakistan all face the same after-sales and support pain points that plagued the United Bravo.

The biggest Problem with Electric Bikes is the Range. It is strictly an intra city vehicle.

 

[RescueRanger]

The biggest Problem with Electric Bikes is the Range. It is strictly an intra city vehicle.

100% my cousin is studying in France and has a small Renault EV on a full charge she can zoom around the city and outskirts no problem, but anything more demanding would require at least 2 charges

 

[Michael]

Why Electric Bikes Make Economic Sense in Pakistan | Faraz Zaidi​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Pakistan is at a turning point in mobility. With rising fuel prices, growing economic pressure, and increasing demand for affordable transport, electric vehicles—especially two and three wheelers—are emerging as a powerful alternative.

In this episode of All Things Money, host Fatima Attarwala sits down with Faraz Zaidi, Chairman of Wasl Mobility Modaraba, a company financing two and three wheelers in Pakistan. The discussion explores how electrification is reshaping mobility, why Pakistan’s motorcycle market is central to this transition, and how economics—not just environment—are driving EV adoption.

00:00 Introduction & Guest Overview
00:32 Why Pakistan is a Two-Wheeler Market
01:12 Economics of Electric Bikes
02:08 Cost vs Fuel Savings Explained
05:35 Supply vs Demand in EV Market
09:07 Policy Challenges & Fuel Dependence
14:19 Fuel Price Volatility & Consumer Shift
18:14 Theft, Insurance & Karachi Context
28:28 EV Manufacturing & Localization Debate
33:04 After-Sales & Maintenance Challenges
36:04 Women Mobility & EV Impact
39:03 Environmental Impact of EVs
42:02 Battery Swapping vs Charging
49:10 Policy Bottlenecks & Government Role
51:30 Budget, Taxes & EV Policy

My feeling is that this is a typical advertisement disguised as a TV program.

 

[Bilal]

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[Pakistan First]

EVs and E-bikes are essential for Pakistan. Given we don't produce oil.

Two of our largest expenses are Oil and Cars / auto Parts that we import every month.

If we import less oil, its better for economy and our trade deficit will balance.

CRITICAL FACTOR FOR PAKISTAN

But most important thing from economic point of view is that govt needs to make regulations and laws that E-bikes and EVs must be manufactured in Pakistan.

Otherwise it will be same story as how Japanese auto industry single handedly destroyed Pakistan's economy by making only assembly plants. For 6 decades, we had enormous demand for cars (due to our population) and yet Japanese never invested in Pakistan and never made a manufacturing plant. We let them ruin our economy. Every year Pakistan buys auto parts worth billions of dollars from Japan just because we never bothered to brute force Japanese to invest into a full scale manufacturing like how india forced them. So prices in india are less and auto industry contributes in their economy unlike ours which is a massive burden. I did some reading, every time every govt passes few statements that they will force auto industry to local manufacturing but every time the auto giants are able to bribe / influence the officials and get away with it.
Govt needs to make only 2 laws.
1- No new petrol based car to be assembled / imported in the country post 2030
2- No EVs can be sold unless full manufactured in Pakistan.

The auto industry will flock to Pakistan as no one can ignore the massive demand of our people. Even if they don't, it will give massive opportunity for local investors to get in the game.





@RescueRanger

 

[Michael]

Govt needs to make only 2 laws.
1- No new petrol based car to be assembled / imported in the country post 2030
2- No EVs can be sold unless full manufactured in Pakistan.

Dude, that's a really bad and stupid strategy. You have absolutely no idea what the consequences of doing that will be.

China employed a similar strategy decades ago, with disastrous consequences.
India and the United States are also using this strategy today.

I don't want to elaborate on this issue. When you lack the necessary capabilities, implementing such a strategy is suicidal.

 

[Pakistan First]

Dude, that's a really bad and stupid strategy. You have absolutely no idea what the consequences of doing that will be.

China employed a similar strategy decades ago, with disastrous consequences.
India and the United States are also using this strategy today.

I don't want to elaborate on this issue. When you lack the necessary capabilities, implementing such a strategy is suicidal.

Now this warrants a lecture. and EVERYONE must read it.

Michael, You don't want but I will school you a bit on the topic.

Its 100% clear that you are always making a point or a narrative that Pakistan lacks capabilities and should be importing stuff from China. I get it that You make money by exporting items. You are in this forum, not for Pakistan's betterment but you see China's interest in each and every topic and that is thoroughly reflected in each and single response that you give.

Now we need to understand few things:

Is there a demand for autos in Pakistan? Answer is YES! Its a HUGE demand. Its 5th largest country wr.t. Population.

So if there is a massive demand that means its a huge market for auto companies. Why should we strain our economy by keep our selves in endless cycle of imports ? Why should we not make laws which facilitates local investors and the laws & regulations which brings foreign investment in Pakistan.

If you own a car manufacturing company and you see a massive market in Pakistan but laws of Pakistan do not let users in Pakistan to import your cars then obviously you will try to tap into the market by investing in it. If you don't do that then it will give opportunity for local companies of Pakistan to tap into that market. That's how country's industry will grow. How on earth our local industry will grow in the international space when any user / company can setup a outlet and import cars from foreign. That is why our local industry could not grow.

If you still don't understand, I give you a simple another example. I was strong supporter of blocking facebook and other tech giants platforms in Pakistan in early days of social media as I believed that only that will give opportunity for local startups to bring their products. Otherwise how else they can compete with giants. So, facebook was banned for few weeks in Pakistan for not doing action over blashphemous content. In just few weeks, we saw so many local social media companies bring their own facebook equivalent. It was late 2000s. If that ban would have continued, we would have a several 100 million dollars worth social media company that would have ventured outside Pakistan too.

You always try to shame Pakistan that we don't have enough capabilities. How do you think China did all that? Why did China blocked all tech giants early on from operating in China. Did it not give local chinese industry a massive opportunity to penetrate into chinese public ? Otherwise in early 2000s who would have used a junk chinese platform in presense of Google and other giants ? No chinese person would have ever even touched a junky / funky chinese social media or other tech industry had China opened itself for Google and other american tech industry. China completely blocked it all. Only that gave chinese tech industry the room to progress and develop. So you need to really understand and think thoroughly before formulating a response.

You also mentioned in your response that india is currently doing it. Well india is doing this for last 3 decades and its doing wonders for their economy. The make-in-india initiative forces other companies to invest in india. There is no free lunch for foriegn companies like in Pakistan that they can just sell their products without investing in the country. Investment helps in two ways, first local employment and secondly, the import bill of the country reduces dramatically. I think you have zero clues about most of things except military hardware. Why don't you focus only about chinese military hardware and don't poke unnecessary everywhere else in our internal matters? What capabilties you think a massive country like Pakistan lacks ? other than making right laws and regulations. With right laws and regulations and massive market of 280 million people, Pakistan can do wonders. The capabilties will develop in no time if govt make laws / regulations which facilitates local investment.

 

[Michael]

Now this warrants a lecture. and EVERYONE must read it.

Michael, You don't want but I will school you a bit on the topic.

Its 100% clear that you are always making a point or a narrative that Pakistan lacks capabilities and should be importing stuff from China. I get it that You make money by exporting items. You are in this forum, not for Pakistan's betterment but you see China's interest in each and every topic and that is thoroughly reflected in each and single response that you give.

Now we need to understand few things:

Is there a demand for autos in Pakistan? Answer is YES! Its a HUGE demand. Its 5th largest country wr.t. Population.

So if there is a massive demand that means its a huge market for auto companies. Why should we strain our economy by keep our selves in endless cycle of imports ? Why should we not make laws which facilitates local investors and the laws & regulations which brings foreign investment in Pakistan.

If you own a car manufacturing company and you see a massive market in Pakistan but laws of Pakistan do not let users in Pakistan to import your cars then obviously you will try to tap into the market by investing in it. If you don't do that then it will give opportunity for local companies of Pakistan to tap into that market. That's how country's industry will grow. How on earth our local industry will grow in the international space when any user / company can setup a outlet and import cars from foreign. That is why our local industry could not grow.

If you still don't understand, I give you a simple another example. I was strong supporter of blocking facebook and other tech giants platforms in Pakistan in early days of social media as I believed that only that will give opportunity for local startups to bring their products. Otherwise how else they can compete with giants. So, facebook was banned for few weeks in Pakistan for not doing action over blashphemous content. In just few weeks, we saw so many local social media companies bring their own facebook equivalent. It was late 2000s. If that ban would have continued, we would have a several 100 million dollars worth social media company that would have ventured outside Pakistan too.

You always try to shame Pakistan that we don't have enough capabilities. How do you think China did all that? Why did China blocked all tech giants early on from operating in China. Did it not give local chinese industry a massive opportunity to penetrate into chinese public ? Otherwise in early 2000s who would have used a junk chinese platform in presense of Google and other giants ? No chinese person would have ever even touched a junky / funky chinese social media or other tech industry had China opened itself for Google and other american tech industry. China completely blocked it all. Only that gave chinese tech industry the room to progress and develop. So you need to really understand and think thoroughly before formulating a response.

You also mentioned in your response that india is currently doing it. Well india is doing this for last 3 decades and its doing wonders for their economy. The make-in-india initiative forces other companies to invest in india. There is no free lunch for foriegn companies like in Pakistan that they can just sell their products without investing in the country. Investment helps in two ways, first local employment and secondly, the import bill of the country reduces dramatically. I think you have zero clues about most of things except military hardware. Why don't you focus only about chinese military hardware and don't poke unnecessary everywhere else in our internal matters? What capabilties you think a massive country like Pakistan lacks ? other than making right laws and regulations. With right laws and regulations and massive market of 280 million people, Pakistan can do wonders. The capabilties will develop in no time if govt make laws / regulations which facilitates local investment.

This is an international forum, and there are many people with ulterior motives here. I don't want to humiliate you. Because you are flying the Pakistani flag, humiliating you is humiliating Pakistan. This is certainly not my intention.

Note your original words:

Govt needs to make only 2 laws.
1- No new petrol based car to be assembled / imported in the country post 2030
2- No EVs can be sold unless full manufactured in Pakistan.

Let me ask you a very simple and basic question.

Pakistan is famously rich in copper mines. However, does Pakistan possess sufficient copper refining and processing capabilities? You can research this yourself.

In the electric vehicle industry, cable system fabrication is relatively simple (excluding design). Its signal processing and control systems generally use 4N grade copper cables (some systems use higher grades).

Now, you can investigate where Pakistan currently sources its 4N grade copper cables.

*If you don't know what 4N grade copper cables are, you can ask AI first. 4N copper cable is a very common industrial material; it's not a high-tech product at all. It wouldn't be difficult for Pakistan to acquire this capability. In fact, Pakistan does have the capability to process 4N grade copper cables. However, you can check the market to see how much 4N grade copper cable is actually made in Pakistan.

As for other more technologically advanced details, I don't want to go into those issues anymore. In the electric vehicle sector, besides CKD (Completely Knocked Down) assembly, what else can Pakistan do? Can you give some examples?