Government targets 30% electric vehicle adoption in five years as PM pushes oil reserves and battery storage plans

The government is planning to convert 30% of vehicles in the country to electric within the next five years, a transition projected to save approximately $4.5 billion in fuel import costs, officials informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a high-level review meeting on electric mobility.

The briefing also outlined a scheme under which government employees up to Grade 16 would be provided electric motorcycles on easy instalments, with the prime minister directing authorities to ensure transparency in subsidy distribution for low-income groups under the national electric vehicle policy and to expedite implementation of the programme.

Separately, authorities have initiated work on a comprehensive framework to establish and maintain strategic reserves of crude oil, following the prime minister’s directive to strengthen long-term energy preparedness in light of evolving regional dynamics.

Chairing a meeting on Thursday, the prime minister described energy security as a critical component of national planning and said timely conservation measures taken in recent months had helped prevent the emergence of an energy crisis despite regional pressures.

He further instructed that government procurement policies be aligned with environmental objectives, stating that in future only electric buses and motorcycles should be acquired for official use as part of a gradual transition toward cleaner transport systems.

Officials also informed the meeting that a PC-I was being prepared for two pilot projects aimed at developing battery storage capacity at the grid level to support renewable energy integration and manage surplus electricity generated from solar installations.

In addition, the prime minister directed authorities to formulate a strategy to facilitate the acquisition of battery systems capable of storing excess solar power, describing energy conservation and sustainable development as essential pillars of the country’s long-term policy framework.

The meeting was told that the National Coordination and Management Council (NCMC) established for the energy sector was reviewing the regional energy situation on a daily basis, while continued efforts by oil and gas companies were contributing to incremental increases in domestic production of oil and gas resources.