Ahsan Iqbal Pushes Rapid EV Shift to Cut Pakistan's Fuel Import Bill
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged a rapid, phased shift of Pakistan's road transport to electric power, warning that 80 per cent of national petrol consumption is driven by vehicles. The government has already introduced an Rs. 80,000 subsidy for electric motorcycles and cut import duties on EVs in the latest federal budget.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for a rapid, phased transition of Pakistan's entire road transport fleet to electric power, citing that 80 per cent of the country's petrol consumption goes to the transport sector. Speaking at the EVS World and Electricity Pakistan Exhibition at Expo Centre Lahore on Saturday, the minister said the global EV revolution is already under way and Pakistan must accelerate its own shift to reduce fuel imports and ease pressure on foreign-exchange reserves.
Why Transport Is the Biggest Target
Pakistan's fuel import bill is a persistent drain on foreign exchange and a key contributor to the country's chronic current account pressures. Iqbal's core argument was straightforward: if four-fifths of all petrol consumed nationally goes into vehicles, electrifying transport is the single most powerful lever available to cut oil imports. Reducing that outflow would free up dollars currently sent overseas for crude and refined petroleum, channelling them instead toward productive domestic investment and export development.
He was direct about the economic stakes.
Frequently Asked
Questions about this story
What government subsidy is currently available for electric motorcycles in Pakistan?
The federal government is offering a subsidy of up to Rs. 80,000 per electric motorcycle. Reduced import duties on electric vehicles were also announced in the most recent federal budget, which should lower retail prices for both imported electric motorcycles and cars.Does Pakistan's EV transition plan include auto-rickshaws and three-wheelers?
Yes. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed that the phased migration plan covers two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers. The motorcycle segment is being prioritised first given the sheer number of petrol motorcycles on Pakistan's roads.How does Pakistan's solar energy surplus connect to the EV push?
The minister cited 6,000–8,000 MW of solar generation as a domestic energy buffer that can power EVs, displacing imported oil with locally produced electricity. Households with net-metered solar panels connected to DISCOs such as LESCO or MEPCO can charge EVs from surplus generation at very low marginal cost.Will electric vehicle prices in Pakistan drop further after the latest budget duty cuts?
Import duties on EVs were reduced in the most recent federal budget, which should lower retail prices for imported electric vehicles. The exact price reduction will depend on how manufacturers and importers pass on the duty savings, and further details are expected from the relevant ministry.Does the Rs. 80,000 electric motorcycle subsidy apply to consumers across all provinces and DISCOs?
The subsidy is a federal initiative and is expected to apply nationwide, covering buyers in all provinces whether they are served by LESCO in Lahore, MEPCO in Multan, PESCO in Peshawar, or any other DISCO. Formal eligibility criteria and a list of approved models have not yet been publicly released.
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