LAHORE – Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar on Thursday witnessed the signing of what he has termed “historic” Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up a value chain for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure in Pakistan.
The MoU was signed by Daewoo Express and Skywell Automobiles, China, and Hitachi ABB Power Grids in Pakistan.
Under the MoU, Skywell Automobiles China and Daewoo Express Pakistan will collaborate to introduce electric buses and other electric vehicles in Pakistan and create a technical support base in the country with robust charging infrastructure through ABB Hitachi Power Grids.
Skywell Automobiles will provide its state-of-the-art electric buses for the Pakistan market in Phase-I, and in Phase II, shall set up a manufacturing plant for producing electric vehicles in Pakistan.
The MoU was signed at a ceremony hosted by Ambassador of Sweden Henrik Persson at his official residence.
Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar was the chief guest on the occasion while Ambassadors of South Korea, Switzerland and Japan also participated in the ceremony and witnessed the signing ceremony.
The MoU was also attended simultaneously by officials of Skywell in China, Hitachi ABB in Sweden and Switzerland connected via web-link.
Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry Sarwar said electric buses and vehicles were the future of transport as the world was moving towards electric vehicles. We in Pakistan need to move towards this technology to protect our environment and grow our economy.
I'm delighted to witness the signing of a historic MOU between @DaewooExpress, Skywell Automobiles China & @HitachiPG to launch electric vehicles & establish a charging infrastructure in #Pakistan. A great milestone indeed leading to implementation of #ElectricVehicles policy 1/3 pic.twitter.com/K1XCb5fYvv
— Mohammad Sarwar (@ChMSarwar) February 25, 2021
He appreciated the work being done by Ministry of Science & Technology (Ch Fawad Hussain Sb), Ministry of Trade & Commerce, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Climate Change, and Ministry of Industries, to promote environment friendly technologies in Pakistan.
Punjab is also very keen to take a lead in this and Lahore be the first city of Pakistan to bring EV buses, he said, adding: “Every city with EV buses will see a major improvement in #AirQuality . Electrification of transport will be a win-win for #ClimateChange”.
Meanwhile, Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry has termed it a “milestone” achieved by Pakistan. He added that “charging structure will enable electric vehicle usage more common… we are almost there.”
Another milestone achieved, charging structure will enable electric vehicle usage more common… we are almost there https://t.co/jJWIEBND3C
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 25, 2021
