AUTO Industry appears to be entering a new phase in Pakistan with greater focus on electric vehicles and it is really heartening to see the government is trying to provide an enabling environment for it. The ambitious electric vehicle policy unveiled in June this year was the first step towards that direction which aims to bring half a million electric motorcycles and rickshaws, along with more than 100,000 electric cars, buses and trucks, into the transportation system over the next five years. Shifting the transport sector to the electricity is also need of the hour as it will greatly help the country cut oil and gas import bill which runs into billions of dollars as well as mitigate the impact of climate change.
In yet another important and landmark step, the Ministry of Science and Technology on Monday reached an agreement with a private British automobile firm for the manufacturing of electric buses for Pakistan. In the first phase, the British firm will manufacture electric buses for Pakistan whilst in the next phase, it will help the country in the production of vehicles locally. Pakistan had signed the first agreement on electric buses with a Chinese Company and this second one with a European Company will really not only promote the competition but also encourage other companies to invest in Pakistan in this particular sector. This definitely will also a positive impact on the country’s economy and create immense job opportunities for our youth. We will suggest the government to give more incentives to such companies which are showing interest in the electric vehicles if we really want to catch up with the rest of the countries in the region. At the same time it must also be ensured that agreements signed must make it binding on the auto companies to ultimately shift the technology to Pakistan. They should not only build their assembly plants in the country but locally manufacture the machinery and other equipment of vehicles. For the success of electric vehicles, the focus should also be given to the setting up of charging stations including on the motorways and highways.
