ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken major decisions to promote electric vehicles in the country. The Prime Minister said that the government will provide electric rickshaws and loaders to unemployed people on priority basis for employment.
A review meeting on encouraging electric vehicles in the country and government assistance in acquiring electric bikes, rickshaws and loaders was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, Chief Coordinator Musharraf Zaidi and relevant senior officials.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister said that the federal government, including the federal board, will provide electric bikes to the toppers of boards across the country. Encouraging electric vehicles will save billions of dollars in valuable foreign exchange in terms of fuel, help in environmental protection and promote local industry.
He directed that a comprehensive plan of measures be formulated at the government level to make electric vehicles accessible to the common man, and steps be taken to create a complete ecosystem for the production and maintenance of electric vehicles in the country.
The Prime Minister directed that third-party validation be conducted for the entire mechanism of distribution of electric vehicles and government support in it. Priority should be given to people belonging to economically weaker sections in the government’s scheme to encourage electric vehicles and government support in it.
He directed that a public awareness campaign be launched about the government support scheme for acquiring electric vehicles. The Prime Minister directed to ensure that the best quality of electric bikes, rickshaws and loaders provided in the proposed scheme and their compliance with safety standards are met.
Earlier, the meeting was briefed on the current situation of the industry regarding the production of electric vehicles in the country and the government support measures for their access by the common man.
The meeting was informed that the government is taking steps to support the acquisition of electric bikes, rickshaws and loaders through low-cost and easy-to-use loans. Government assistance will be provided to the public in the acquisition of more than one hundred thousand electric bikes and more than three thousand rickshaws and loaders on easy and low-cost terms.
The meeting was informed that under this scheme, free electric bikes will be provided to students who have performed well at the intermediate level in educational boards across the country, including the Federal Board.
The meeting was informed that a special quota of 25% has been kept for women in this scheme, while the quota of the remaining provinces has been allocated in proportion to the population. The Prime Minister also directed to increase the quota of Balochistan to 10%.
The meeting was further informed that thanks to this scheme, 4 new battery manufacturing companies are starting their operations in the country, which will provide new business opportunities and employment in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister directed to ensure the early launch of the scheme based on these suggestions.