Govt eyes 30% EV target for 2030

Pakistan wants electric vehicles to make up 30% of the market by 2030, according to Express Tribune, which quoted Haroon Akhtar Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production. The remark came at talks with an EU delegation, where Khan sought European help in building EV know-how through training and skills programmes. The delegation said it was willing to explore cooperation in this area.

Khan argued that reaching that goal requires a trained workforce, technical skills and a supporting industrial base, not just new vehicles on the road. He noted that several firms have entered the local EV market, which is creating demand for technicians and engineers. Pakistan had lost out in earlier stages of the worldwide car industry's expansion, and Khan said the country cannot let the electric shift pass by.

The government's forthcoming Auto Policy, expected within weeks, will give special weight to EVs, and a Battery Energy Storage System policy is also in progress. Khan added that the shift could cut the nation's oil import bill and open chances for domestic value addition. He directed the Engineering Development Board to engage with the EU delegation and identify practical areas of collaboration.