Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the development of a comprehensive government-level plan to make electric vehicles accessible to the general public. He chaired a meeting in Islamabad today focused on promoting the use of electric vehicles across the country.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister stated that encouraging electric vehicles will help save billions of dollars in valuable foreign exchange spent on fuel, support environmental protection, and boost local industry. He announced that the Federal Government would provide electric bikes to top-performing students from all educational boards across Pakistan, including the Federal Board.

To support employment, Shehbaz Sharif said the government will prioritize the provision of electric rickshaws and loaders to unemployed individuals. He also instructed authorities to take steps toward establishing a complete ecosystem for the manufacturing and maintenance of electric vehicles within the country.

To ensure transparency, the Prime Minister directed that the entire process of electric vehicle distribution and government support be subject to third-party validation. He emphasized that economically disadvantaged individuals should be given priority in the government's electric vehicle promotion and support scheme.

Shehbaz Sharif also called for a public awareness campaign to inform citizens about the government's support scheme for acquiring electric vehicles. He stressed that all electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders provided under the proposed scheme must meet high standards of quality and safety.

The meeting was briefed on the current state of the EV industry in Pakistan and government initiatives to improve public access to electric vehicles. It was shared that the government is working to facilitate the acquisition of electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders through low-cost, soft loans. More than 100,000 electric bikes and over 3,000 rickshaws and loaders will be made available to the public under affordable and accessible terms with government support.

The meeting was informed that top-performing students at the intermediate level across all educational boards, including the Federal Board, will receive free electric bikes under the scheme. It was told that a 25 percent special quota has been allocated for women, while quotas for other provinces have been set according to population ratios. The Prime Minister directed that Balochistan's quota be increased to 10 percent.

It was further apprised that four new battery manufacturing companies are launching their operations in Pakistan as a result of this initiative, creating new business opportunities and employment. The Prime Minister directed to launch the scheme based on these proposals at the earliest.