The Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam has dismissed any reality behind the news that the EV policy is rejected by the Engineering Development Board (EDB) of the Ministry of Industries and Production.
Recently, the second inter-ministerial committee meeting on Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy was held in the federal capital to discuss and get approval of several incentive packages for the investors in this sector by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). In the meeting, it was decided to offer incentives to two and three-wheelers, including motorbikes and auto rickshaws. Meanwhile, the automobile manufacturers of passenger cars have raised their concerns about not being offered similar incentives. However, the automakers are being asked to submit their output within 15 days period so that it could be incorporated into the EV policy. It is pertinent to mention here that in the first phase of electric mobility, the government aims to convert all the motorbikes and three-wheelers into electric. Prime Minister Imran Khan has the vision to convert 70% of the vehicles in the country into electricity by 2030.
NEVP will be revised with few amendments:
While speaking in a press conference after the meeting, he told that Pakistan’s first-ever National Electric Vehicle Policy (NEVP), which was earlier approved by the federal cabinet, will remain intact and will not be redrafted. However, it will be revised with some amendments to address the various concerns of the representatives of the stakeholders. He further added that the government aims to implement the same old policy after resolving the concerns raised by the representatives of Pakistan Automotive Manufacturer’s Association (PAMA) and Pakistan Association of Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM). The EV policy was not rejected by the Engineering Development Board (EDB), he added.
Benefits of EVs as highlighted by the Adviser to PM:
The EV policy approved by the cabinet brings along several hugely beneficial aspects with it. According to him, some of them are:
- Electric vehicles will save up to 70% of the running and maintenance costs as compared to conventional combustion engine vehicles.
- The introduction of electric vehicles in Pakistan would help in reducing the annual oil import bill by nearly $1 billion. The transport sector contributes to the maximum consumption of petroleum products being imported.
- Around 70% of the air pollution will be reduced by introducing electric vehicles in the country, a major portion of which is contributed by the transport sector.
Furthermore, he told that Pakistan had become the 2nd only country in the entire region to introduce an electric vehicle policy, which is a great prospect for the country. India has also introduced another EV policy recently to strengthen and enhance the incentives to attract more global investors in the country. The introduction of electric vehicles in Pakistan will create immense investment, jobs, and business opportunities, and it’s a great chance to capitalize on this investment in the initial stages before the market gets saturated. The policy also envisions promoting the local production of EVs in Pakistan. In the longer run, the government aims to turn the country into an electric vehicle exporter in the region to generate a hefty amount of revenue.
That’s it from our side for now. Mention your suggestions in the comments space and stay in touch with PakWheels Blog for EV policy-related updates.
