Can Pakistan electrify 36 million vehicles before it's too late?

Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its transportation future. With 36 million vehicles consuming 79% of the nation's oil imports while contributing 60 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, the country faces a transportation crisis that threatens both its economic stability and environmental health. 

The New Energy Vehicle Policy 2025-30, launched by the Ministry of Industries and Production, represents Pakistan's latest attempt to address this challenge through an ambitious goal: transforming 30% of all new vehicle sales to electric by 2030. The policy comes at a time when Pakistan's power grid operates at just 50-56% capacity, creating a possible avenue to productively utilize surplus electricity while reducing dependence on costly oil imports that reached $16 billion in 2024. Yet the question remains whether a nation grappling with significant economic challenges can execute such a transformative agenda, and more critically, whether it can afford not to try.