Islamabad to become ‘model city’ for EV adoption: minister

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain has expressed confidence that Islamabad will become a “model city” for widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

During the fourth meeting on the Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy, chaired by the minister on Thursday, the progress on the policy was reviewed. The Ministry of Industries and Production issued a statement highlighting that Minister Tanveer appreciated the efforts of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and directed the authority to install charging stations at all petrol pumps to cater to the growing demand for EVs and promote eco-friendly transportation.

The meeting witnessed the announcement of several initiatives to boost EV usage, including the awarding of free electric bikes to the top 120 Federal Board students. Also, 39,000 e-bikes and 1,900 electric rickshaws will be provided on subsidised loans.

Progress on the construction of 40 charging stations along motorways and highways was also reviewed. The minister highlighted the importance of digitising all processes to ensure transparency and easy access to information. “In line with the prime minister’s vision, Islamabad will become a model city with widespread use of electric vehicles,” he said.

The meeting concluded with the announcement of the imminent launch of the EV Policy, which aims to promote local manufacturing and early adoption of EVs, including new energy vehicles (NEVs), to establish a sustainable transport system in the country.