Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a landmark initiative to distribute free electric bikes to high-achieving students across Pakistan, alongside a comprehensive strategy to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) nationwide. The announcement was made during a high-level meeting held in Islamabad, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
Chairing the meeting, the prime minister emphasized that the transition to electric vehicles will help conserve billions of dollars in foreign exchange spent on fuel, support environmental protection efforts, and bolster the country’s local industry. He directed the concerned authorities to immediately prepare a detailed strategy to increase public access to EVs.
As part of the initiative, top-performing students from all educational boards, including the Federal Board, will receive free electric bikes. Additionally, a special scheme is being developed to provide electric rickshaws and loaders to unemployed individuals, aimed at boosting self-employment opportunities.
PM Shehbaz also instructed authorities to ensure the development of a complete EV ecosystem in Pakistan, including facilities for production, maintenance, and battery manufacturing. He stressed that all EVs distributed under the scheme must meet international standards of quality and safety.
To maintain transparency, the prime minister directed that all processes related to EV distribution and government support be subjected to third-party validation. He emphasized the need to prioritize economically disadvantaged citizens in the distribution process and called for a nationwide awareness campaign to inform the public about the available support.
The meeting was briefed on the current status of Pakistan’s EV industry and ongoing government efforts to make electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders more accessible through soft, low-interest loans. It was revealed that more than 100,000 electric bikes and over 3,000 electric rickshaws and loaders will be made available on affordable terms with government backing.
A 25 percent quota has been reserved for women under the scheme, while provincial quotas will be allocated based on population ratios. In a significant move, PM Shehbaz ordered that Balochistan’s share be increased to 10 percent to ensure greater inclusion.
It was also shared that four new battery manufacturing companies are set to begin operations in Pakistan as a result of this initiative, which will create new job opportunities and contribute to the local EV industry.
The prime minister concluded by directing that the scheme be launched without delay, based on the proposals presented during the meeting
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