Web Desk: Pakistan is moving closer to a new phase in transportation as the country prepares to introduce a locally manufactured low-cost electric vehicle (EV), potentially making electric mobility more accessible for millions of consumers.
The planned vehicle, expected to cost around Rs1 million ($3,556), is designed to provide an affordable alternative for motorcycle users seeking to shift to four-wheel transport, according to an official from the Engineering Development Board (EDB).
The upcoming electric car will be fully manufactured in Pakistan, marking a significant step toward building a domestic EV ecosystem, EDB spokesman Zeeshan Ashraf said.
“A local company is working on the vehicle, and its complete price will be around Rs1 million,” Ashraf said, adding that the government is also considering additional subsidies to reduce the cost for buyers.
The vehicle will be introduced under the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Program, a government initiative aimed at expanding cleaner and more affordable transportation options.
Officials expect the locally produced EV to become available nationwide within the coming months.
Pakistan’s shift toward electric vehicles comes as major urban centres, including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, continue to face worsening air quality and seasonal smog, with road transport identified as a major contributor to emissions.
In response, the government launched its Electric Vehicle Policy 2025–30 last year, allocating more than Rs100 billion ($353 million) in subsidies over five years to support electric bikes, rickshaws and other cleaner transport solutions.
Meanwhile, Chinese and Korean EV manufacturers have expanded their presence in Pakistan, increasing the visibility of electric cars on the country’s roads.
Furthermore, officials say Pakistan is developing local battery production capabilities to reduce dependence on imported components and bring down EV prices.
Engineering Development Board Chief Executive Hammad Mansoor said the country could see its first fully electric locally manufactured car enter the market by June 2026, with a target price of about Rs1 million.
He added that Pakistan’s first lithium battery manufacturing facility is expected to begin operations soon, while another plant is planned later in the year.
According to Mansoor, around 74 percent of battery components could eventually be produced domestically, helping reduce production costs and strengthen the local EV supply chain.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s electric vehicle market received another boost after the country handled its first-ever roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel carrying more than 2,000 imported EVs.
The M.V. Grande Shanghai arrived at Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited at Karachi Port, where vehicles were unloaded by being driven directly off the vessel using built-in ramps.
The RoRo system allows wheeled cargo such as cars and trucks to move on and off ships without cranes, making the process faster and more efficient compared with traditional cargo handling methods.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry described the shipment as an important milestone for Pakistan’s maritime and automotive sectors, saying it reflected efforts to modernise port operations.
The arrival of EV shipments comes as Pakistan works to improve its maritime infrastructure and strengthen logistics networks to support growing trade.
Earlier, the country successfully managed the arrival of a large LNG carrier at Port Qasim during challenging monsoon conditions, highlighting improvements in port handling capacity.
Together, the EV shipment and infrastructure upgrades signal Pakistan’s broader effort to modernise transportation, expand clean energy adoption and prepare its automotive sector for an electric future.
However, experts say affordability, charging infrastructure and consumer confidence will determine how quickly electric vehicles become a mainstream choice for Pakistani motorists.
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