The government will offer electric bicycles in easy installments to employees up to grade 16

Government employees up to grade 16 will be provided with electric bikes in easy installments, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered intensified efforts to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review the promotion of electric vehicles in the country.

“In light of the current regional situation and future needs, the promotion of electric vehicles will not only reduce the burden of fuel imports but also play a key role in environmental protection and energy security,” he said.

“The Prime Minister further ordered that transparency be ensured in the subsidy provided for electric motorcycles for low-income people under the National Electric Vehicle Policy, and that the implementation of this scheme be accelerated.”

The meeting was briefed on ongoing measures to promote the adoption of electric vehicles across the country. It was reported that 72 manufacturing certificates have been issued for motorcycles and electric rickshaws and four for electric cars.

The meeting was further informed that a total of 123 applications had been received to date for the establishment of electric vehicle charging stations and that plans were underway to make 30 per cent of the country’s vehicles electric in the next five years, which could result in fuel savings of approximately $4.5 billion.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers including Climate Minister Musadik Malik, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Energy Minister Awais Leghari and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani along with senior officials.

As part of efforts to promote electric vehicles, Islamabad Capital Police added eco-smart electric vehicles to its fleet on April 6; The Home Office provided 15 battery-powered vehicles with more expected to follow.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said the vehicles run entirely on batteries, without petrol or oil, adding that such initiatives would help ease the pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

He noted that before the current regional situation, work began on fuel efficiency and the electric vehicle policy, which finally led to the acquisition of the new fleet. The provision of eco-smart electric vehicles is part of the Prime Minister’s broader vision and the government’s energy saving policy.