Government to offer easy-payment electric bikes to employees up to grade 16

Government employees up to 16th grade will get e-bikes on easy installments, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered on Wednesday that efforts to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country be intensified.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Prime Minister Shehbaz chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review the promotion of electric vehicles in the country.

“In light of the current regional situation and future needs, the promotion of electric vehicles will not only reduce the burden of fuel imports, but also play a key role in environmental protection and energy security,” he said.

The Prime Minister further directed that transparency be ensured in the subsidy given to electric motorcycles to low-income earners under the National Electric Vehicle Policy, and that the implementation of this program be expedited.

The meeting was briefed on ongoing measures to promote the adoption of electric vehicles nationwide. It was informed that 72 manufacturing certificates had been issued for motorcycles and electric rickshaws, and four for electric cars.

It was further informed at the meeting that a total of 123 applications had been received so far for the establishment of electric vehicle charging stations and plans were underway to make 30 per cent of the country’s vehicles electric in the next five years, which could result in fuel savings of around $4.5 billion.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers, including Climate Minister Musadik Malik, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Energy Minister Awais Leghari and State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with senior officials.

As part of efforts to promote electric vehicles, police in the capital Islamabad introduced eco-smart electric vehicles into its fleet on April 6, with 15 battery-powered vehicles provided by the Interior Ministry and more expected to follow.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said the vehicles run entirely on batteries, without gasoline or oil, adding that such initiatives would help ease pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

He pointed out that work on energy efficiency and electric vehicle policy began before the current regional situation, which ultimately led to the acquisition of a new fleet. The provision of eco-smart electric vehicles is part of the Prime Minister’s wider vision and the Government’s energy saving policy.