StarCharge Energy Pakistan and Bahum Global Sign MoU to Build EV Charging Network

StarCharge Energy Pakistan, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) charging and digital energy solutions firm, and Bahum Global Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop EV charging infrastructure across Pakistan. The agreement, announced in July 2026, marks a formal step toward expanding the country's sparse public charging network at a time when EV adoption is gradually accelerating in major urban centres. Specific financial commitments and deployment timelines were not disclosed at the time of signing.

Who Are the Parties Behind This Agreement?

StarCharge Energy Pakistan is the local subsidiary of a Chinese company specialising in EV charging hardware and digital energy management solutions. Bahum Global Pakistan is a domestic firm aiming to support Pakistan's shift toward electric transport. The MoU is designed to combine StarCharge's technical capabilities with Bahum Global's local market presence, though the agreement's specific deliverables — including target cities, charging station counts, and total capital outlay — have not been made public.

Pakistan's EV Infrastructure Gap

Pakistan's federal government launched its National Electric Vehicle Policy in 2020, setting targets of converting 30% of new vehicle sales and 50% of two- and three-wheeler sales to electric by 2030. Progress has been gradual. While EV imports — particularly Chinese electric two-wheelers and some four-wheelers — have grown in recent years, public charging infrastructure has not kept pace. The limited charging points currently operating are concentrated in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, leaving major cities such as Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Quetta largely without accessible public fast-charging options.

NEPRA (the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) and the Power Division have identified EV integration as a component of demand-side energy planning. As EV fleets expand, the distribution networks managed by DISCOs — including LESCO (Lahore Electric Supply Company), IESCO (Islamabad Electric Supply Company), MEPCO (Multan Electric Power Company), PESCO (Peshawar Electric Supply Company), and K-Electric in Karachi — will need to absorb significantly higher loads, particularly during evening peak hours when most commuters return home and plug in.

Structural Challenges Any Rollout Must Overcome

Despite the opportunity, a nationwide EV charging network in Pakistan faces several interconnected challenges:

• Grid reliability: Pakistan's distribution infrastructure is already under stress from load shedding. Adding bulk EV charging load without smart-charging controls risks amplifying peak-hour demand imbalances across DISCO networks.
• Tariff uncertainty: NEPRA has not finalised a dedicated EV-charging tariff category. Charging station operators currently bill under commercial or industrial rates, which can exceed Rs. 50 per kWh including taxes and surcharges, eroding the cost advantage over petrol.
• Import duties on hardware: EV charging equipment attracts customs duties that raise capital costs for deployers and slow commercial viability.
• Grid connection approvals: Each charging station requires a formal DISCO connection application and load approval, a process that can stretch from several months to over a year depending on the distribution company involved.