EV boom gives Rawalpindi, Islamabad a charge

Mettis Global reported that electric vehicles are becoming a more common sight in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Higher fuel costs, which the report links to Middle East tensions, along with environmental concerns, are steering residents toward a cheaper and cleaner option than petrol-powered travel. Battery-powered bikes, scooters, cars and rickshaws are showing up more often on local roads, particularly among students, office workers and delivery riders.

Cheaper running and upkeep, plus government backing for charging infrastructure, are driving the shift, and several charging points now operate at filling stations and in commercial zones. An Islamabad resident said his petrol spending of about Rs12,000 a month has been replaced by charging costs under Rs1,500, and he charges the bike at home overnight.

A delivery rider named Sultan said petrol once absorbed half of what he earned, and that his savings have nearly doubled since he moved to an electric bike. Saba Ahmed, a Rawalpindi resident who now drives an electric car, called the ride smooth and free of exhaust, and reported no upkeep bills after a year. She urged the authorities to add charging stations, bring EV prices down and introduce instalment plans.