ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has urged the government to take action against the use of unsafe and outdated battery technologies in electric vehicles (EVs), warning that such practices could erode consumer trust and hinder the country’s environmental ambitions.
Concerns Over Battery Quality
In a statement issued Wednesday, PAMA Director General Abdul Waheed Khan said that while government subsidies aim to promote EV adoption, consumers are still forced to spend heavily from their own pockets.
“The government should not compel consumers to buy vehicles fitted with poor-quality batteries disguised as advanced technology,” Khan asserted.
He revealed that over 90% of electric two-wheelers in Pakistan are running on lead-acid batteries coated with a thin layer of graphene, a marketing ploy he described as “pure deception.”
The PAVE Programme and Battery Standards
The federal government recently rolled out the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Programme 2025–2030, a revenue-neutral scheme backed by a levy of up to 3% on the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles.
- The plan allocates Rs. 122 billion in subsidies for various auto segments.
- Only EVs equipped with lithium or other advanced battery technologies will qualify for these incentives.
PAMA welcomed this criterion, stressing that lithium-ion batteries are internationally recognized for their durability, safety, and efficiency — unlike the graphene-coated lead-acid variants currently dominating the local market.
Misleading Marketing and Consumer Risks
Khan highlighted that no local manufacturer offers a warranty longer than 24 months on these substandard batteries, whereas lithium batteries often come with warranties that extend for five years or more.
He further accused certain industry players of spreading false data to distort global EV production statistics, thereby confusing consumers and policymakers alike.
Call for Transparency and Reform
“It’s vital to share accurate information with the public,” Khan said. “The misleading figures being circulated damage both the auto industry’s credibility and consumer confidence.”
PAMA urged the government to resist pressure from vested interests and ensure that public funds and subsidies are used only to support proven, globally accepted battery technologies.
The association emphasized that without transparency and adherence to international standards, Pakistan’s EV transition could stall before it truly begins.
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