National Assembly committee reviews EV policy as government accelerates charging infrastructure, battery recycling, and local manufacturing initiatives.
Pakistan has licensed more than 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country as part of its efforts to accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Officials also informed lawmakers that all newly established petrol stations in Islamabad will be required to install EV charging facilities, reflecting the government’s commitment to expanding the electric mobility ecosystem.
The update was shared during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, chaired by acting chairperson Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro.
The committee reviewed Pakistan’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy alongside the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2026-27.
Officials from the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Ministry of Climate Change explained that the EV policy had been developed by the Engineering Development Board in collaboration with development partners, academic institutions, and policy experts.
The strategy focuses on promoting electric two- and three-wheelers, expanding charging infrastructure, encouraging local manufacturing, and reducing reliance on imported components.
Committee members sought details on the availability of charging stations, affordability of electric vehicles, incentives for manufacturers, battery recycling systems, indigenous production of spare parts, and the long-term sustainability of Pakistan’s shift toward electric mobility.
Officials informed the committee that a comprehensive battery policy and recycling framework has already been prepared and is awaiting formal approval.
Members were also briefed on the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) programme, which includes proposals to facilitate EV ownership for government employees in Basic Pay Scales (BPS) 1 to 16 and introduce skill-development initiatives to support the growing electric vehicle industry.
During the meeting, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik highlighted that despite fiscal limitations, the ministry had prioritized nationally significant development projects under the PSDP 2026-27.
New initiatives include the establishment of a botanical garden, air quality improvement projects, and exploring private-sector participation in environmental programmes.
The minister also highlighted completed initiatives, including the Pakistan Biosafety Clearing House, established to strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency and fulfill the country’s obligations under the Cartagena Protocol. In addition, water-quality laboratories and testing facilities have been made operational under the WASH programme.
Officials further informed the committee that recent regulatory approvals for genetically modified soybean and canola were helping strengthen Pakistan’s poultry sector while maintaining compliance with international food safety standards.
Lawmakers also expressed concern over water pollution in Islamabad, particularly untreated wastewater entering natural streams. Officials said action is being taken against illegal discharges, while a sewage treatment plant at Korang Nullah is under construction to reduce pollution flowing into Rawal Dam.
The committee also reviewed progress on climate financing, green taxonomy, international partnerships, and the formulation of new National Ambient Air Quality Standards, expected to be finalized later this year with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
Members directed the ministry to submit detailed reports on certified vehicle emissions testing laboratories, the legal boundaries of Margalla Hills National Park, and Pakistan’s biosafety and GMO policy framework.
