IN a major development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday announced 44 percent reduction in the power tariff for the electric vehicle (EV) charging stations bringing it down from Rs71.10 per unit to Rs39.70 per unit. The move is aimed at attracting investment, reducing reliance on imported fuel and tackling the country’s escalating air pollution crisis.
Together with other measures envisaged in the Electrical Vehicles Policy, this is, indeed, a significant decision that would help popularization of the electrical vehicles, which is the future of the transportation sector in the entire world. Like solar power, the world is investing in electrical vehicle technology because of its obvious advantages in terms of environmental benefits, noise pollution and fuel efficiency and it is satisfying that the Government of Pakistan too is taking necessary measures to catch up with the rest of the world. A transition to EV has become a necessity in view of rising cost of oil and the fact that the country spends $6 billion annually on its import. According to Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Leghari, the tariff cut is expected to significantly lower the operational costs for motorcycles, three-wheelers, small cars and other EVs, adding the cost of running an electric motorcycle will drop by three times to just Rs33, compared to Rs100 for a petrol-powered bike. Similarly, the use of electric technology in three wheelers will help reduce fare and transportation charges, thereby contributing towards the goal of checking inflation. Other elements of the EV policy are also appreciable but there seems to be not required focus on transfer of technology and local fabrication, which has remained a weak point of the country throughout.
