Chinese charging solutions company partners with McDonald’s Pakistan as the government targets a 30% electric vehicle share.
Chinese electric vehicle charging solutions company StarCharge is set to establish electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Pakistan following an agreement with McDonald’s Pakistan, a move expected to strengthen the country’s charging infrastructure and encourage electric mobility.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain welcomed the initiative on Monday while addressing the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between StarCharge and McDonald’s Pakistan.
The minister said Pakistan had launched an EV initiative under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, with a vision to make 30% of vehicles electric, including cars, motorcycles and three-wheelers.
He said an accessible charging network was essential to make EVs practical for consumers, warning that difficulties in finding charging facilities could undermine their usability and efficiency.
Hussain recalled that he had formulated and announced the EV policy while serving as Minister for Industries and Production, under which electric motorcycles were also distributed.
He added that the government had introduced measures to facilitate charging stations at major shopping malls and high-rise buildings. Charging facilities had also been made mandatory under relevant approval requirements involving the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The minister highlighted the importance of charging infrastructure along motorways and on long-distance routes, despite improvements in EV driving ranges.
Welcoming StarCharge’s entry into Pakistan, Hussain said he had visited its factory in China and examined its manufacturing facilities. He added that the government had invited the company to establish charging stations locally.
The agreement with McDonald’s Pakistan is expected to support charging access at locations offering drive-through services, helping accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across the country.