ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday underscored the need to shift to environment-friendly electric vehicles (EVs) across the country to help save foreign reserves amid the global oil crisis.
Addressing the handing-over ceremony of eco-smart electric vehicles to the Islamabad Capital Territory Traffic Police, the Prime Minister emphasised that all law enforcement agencies and provincial administrations should follow such energy-saving initiatives.
He noted that the Interior Ministry had provided 15 electric vehicles running solely on batteries, eliminating the need for petrol or oil, and announced that an additional batch would soon be inducted.
Describing the initiative as significant, the Prime Minister highlighted its potential positive impact on the country’s foreign reserves.
The introduction of these eco-friendly vehicles aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision and the government’s broader energy-saving policy.
According to officials, policies on fuel economy and electric vehicles were initiated before the current regional crises, enabling the timely procurement of these vehicles.
Each vehicle can cover 350–400 km on a full charge. Fast charging takes 60–90 minutes, while standard charging requires 6–8 hours.
Compared with conventional petrol vehicles, each electric vehicle is expected to save up to Rs 0.55 million per month, covering its procurement cost within 13–14 months.
The initiative is also part of the federal government’s modern traffic management plan, with 15 more electric vehicles planned for induction into the traffic police fleet in the near future.
It is pertinent to mention that Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced a reduction of Rs80 per litre in petroleum prices, providing much-needed relief to the public struggling with a global inflationary “storm.”
The Prime Minister stated that this reduction, achieved by slashing the petroleum levy, will remain in effect for at least one month across the entire country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
