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Pakistani automobile joint ventures with Chinese automakers BYD and Changan have recently launched several all-electric and plug-in hybrid models of automobiles in Pakistan. Earlier, Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited announced plans to build a hybrid electric vehicles plant in the country. Other major brands like Toyota, Haval, and Hyundai are already offering similar models in the country. It all began with the 2019 electric vehicle policy approved by the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan to incentivize the electrification of the auto industry. Pakistan EV policy goal is to achieve 30% of new cars sales, 50% of new 2-wheeler and 3-wheeler sales and 30% of new truck sales by 2030. By 2040, the target is 90% of all new vehicle sales to be electric. The main incentive is the reduction of sales tax from 17% for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to 1% for all-electric (EV) vehicles.
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BYD EV. Source: CNBC |
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Soaring Imports of Chinese Solar Panels in Pakistan. Source: Bloomberg |
Pakistan has contributed only 0.28% of the CO2 emissions but it is among the biggest victims of climate change. The US, Europe, India, China and Japan, the world's biggest polluters, must accept responsibility for the catastrophic floods in Pakistan and climate disasters elsewhere. A direct link of the disaster in Pakistan to climate change has been confirmed by a team of 26 scientists affiliated with World Weather Attribution, a research initiative that specializes in rapid studies of extreme events, according to the New York Times.
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Top 5 Current Polluters. Source: Our World in Data |
Currently, the biggest annual CO2 emitters are China, the US, India and Russia. Pakistan's annual CO2 emissions add up to just 235 million tons. On the other hand, China contributes 11.7 billion tons, the United States 4.5 billion tons, India 2.4 billion tons, Russia 1.6 billion tons and Japan 1.06 billion tons.
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Pakistan's Annual CO2 Emission. Source: Our World in Data |
The United States has contributed 399 billion tons (25%) of CO2 emissions, the highest cumulative carbon emissions since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century. The 28 countries of the European Union (EU28), including the United Kingdom, come in second with 353 billion tons of CO2 (22%), followed by China with 200 billion tons (12.7%).
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Electrification refers to the process of replacing technologies that use fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) with technologies that use electricity as a source of energy. Depending on the resources used to generate electricity, electrification can potentially reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the transportation, building, and industrial sectors, which account for 65 percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing emissions from these sectors is critical to decarbonizing the economy and, ultimately, mitigating the impacts of climate change. This explainer reviews how electrification can reduce emissions; possibilities and potential challenges of electrification in the transportation, building, and industrial sectors; and policy options for encouraging electrification.
https://www.rff.org/publications/explainers/electrification-101/#:~....
Pakistan Is Only the Beginning of the Cheap Solar Revolution
By Ryan Cooper, managing editor at The American Prospect, and author of the book "How Are You Going to Pay for That?: Smart Answers to the Dumbest Question in Politics."
No need for expensive imported fuel when your energy is coming from the sun.
https://heatmap.news/economy/pakistan-solar
Pakistan imported a whopping 13 gigawatts of solar panels, mostly from China, in just the first half of 2024, mostly for rooftop installations for homes and businesses. That’s a mind-boggling amount of new solar for a country that only had about 50 gigawatts of installed generation capacity in total in 2023.
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Fuel imports are one of the largest expenses for even prosperous countries. For places like Pakistan, they are a punishing economic drain. Paying for vast amounts of imported coal, gas, and oil in scarce foreign currency is hard enough in good times, but it’s disastrous when one’s currency has depreciated by about 40% over two years.
Dirt cheap solar power could ameliorate or solve many of these problems at a stroke. Panels are now so cheap, even Pakistan can afford to import them by the millions — an expense, yes, but a one-time one. And while solar is inherently intermittent, and therefore not a solution to Pakistan’s reliability problems, batteries are also plummeting in price — down about 90% between 2010 and 2023 — and can help balance out supply. Cheaper batteries also mean cheaper EVs, with (as usual) Chinese models coming out at bewilderingly low prices. And because Pakistanis mostly drive motorcycles (often manufactured domestically) over relatively short distances, electrifying the personal vehicle fleet there will be far cheaper than in America or Europe; vastly smaller batteries require vastly simpler charging infrastructure.
If all goes well, this will free up vast amounts of economic capacity for Pakistan to invest in domestic development. Businesses will have stable, reliable power supplies that will justify more investment. Households will be able to upgrade their insulation, install heat pumps, and generally spend more on things other than energy. The government will be able to upgrade legacy transmission lines to accommodate solar production from the remaining hydro and nuclear plants.
Finally, of course, there is the climate benefit. Pakistan is one of the countries most threatened by climate change. Summer heat waves are bad and getting worse, to the point where murderous wet bulb events are increasingly likely. Catastrophic warming-fueled storms in 2022 caused the worst flooding in the country’s history, inundating about a third of Pakistan’s land area, killing nearly 2,000 people and causing billions of dollars in damages.
In short, a path to economic development will be opened. It is by no means guaranteed, but it will be a heck of a lot easier than trying to dig out from under the debt mountain of the collapsing coal-powered system. Look around the developing world and you’ll find there are a great many nations in similar situations.
Pakistan emerged as second-largest market for Chinese photovoltaic products | REVE News of the wind sector in Spain and in the world
https://www.evwind.es/2024/10/02/pakistan-emerged-as-second-largest...
Pakistan has emerged as a significant new market for Chinese photovoltaic (PV) companies, aligning with its path toward energy transformation.
According to statistics from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA), in the first half of 2024, Asia overtook Europe as the largest export destination for PV products and Pakistan has become the second-largest market for module exports after Europe.
During the same period, China exported inverters worth a total of RMB 1.714 billion to Pakistan. In August alone, the total value of inverter exports to Pakistan reached 326 million yuan, showing a year-on-year surge of 429.04%. And shimmering blue panels now sit atop a vast array of factories, households, hospitals and mosques.
The surge in exports of photovoltaics and supporting products reflects the urgency of turning to new energy power generation in Pakistan, China Economic Net reported on Tuesday.
“Electricity prices continue to rise; thus, people are trying to find their own way out,” Abbas a Pakistani trader said at the Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China.
As of June 2023, the installed capacity of solar power in Pakistan stood at 630 megawatts, namely 1.4% of the overall installed power capacity, which has a huge room for improvement.
In terms of natural conditions, according to the World Bank’s Global Solar Atlas data, taking Balochistan with good lighting conditions as an example, the average annual total photovoltaic output power of a 1KW household photovoltaic system can reach 1990kWh (corresponding to approximately 1990h of sunlight), which is approximately 41% and 59% higher than New Delhi, India and Shandong Province, China, respectively; the Global Tilted Irradiance (GTI) can reach 2536.5KWh/square meter, which is approximately 36% and 61% higher than New Delhi, India and Shandong Province, China respectively.
In terms of policies, for the past few years, the Pakistani government has highly supported the development of renewable energy, setting a strategic goal of increasing the share of renewable energy and alternative energy in Pakistan’s electricity market to 20% by 2025 and to 30% by 2030.
The IGCEP2047 released by NEPRA showed that Pakistan’s PV installed capacity will achieve leapfrog growth in the next few years. It is expected that by 2030, the PV installed capacity will reach 12.8GW, and by 2047 it is expected to reach 26.9GW. According to calculations, in order to achieve the 2030/2047 goals, the average annual new PV installed capacity needs to reach 1.65/1.07GW respectively.
Businesses in Pakistan are racing to cover their factory rooftops with reasonably priced Chinese solar panels. “Every bit of space I have, even if it’s a few feet, I want it covered in solar panels,” said Khawaja Masood Akhtar, chief executive of Forward Sports, whose factory is one of the world’s largest makers of footballs. His company had already doubled the level of solar in its energy mix to 50% over the past two years. Akhtar is now ploughing a chunk of last year’s profits into importing another haul of panels from China to lift the share of solar supply to his operations to 80% by next April.
Pakistan ends power deals to save $1.48 billion, cut tariffs | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/pakistans-biggest-private-u...
Government to save 411 billion rupees
Negotiations with more power producers underway
IMF bailout talks influenced decision to revisit power deals
KARACHI, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Pakistan's government has ended power purchase contracts with five private companies, including one with the country's largest utility that should have been in place until 2027, to cut costs, officials said on Thursday.
The news confirms comment from Power Minister Awais Leghari to Reuters last month that the government was re-negotiating deals with independent power producers to lower electricity tariffs as households and businesses struggle to manage soaring energy costs.
"We studied these agreements and we decided what plants we need and what plants we don't need," Leghari told a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, adding the termination of the take or pay agreements will save the nation nearly 411 billion rupees ($1.48 billion) in the coming years.
Take or pay is referred to as capacity payments in Pakistan where the government has to pay private companies irrespective of how much of the power they generate is transferred to its grid.
Negotiations have also begun with other power producers to revise their contracts, Leghari said, adding people would soon see the impact in their monthly bills.
"Our aim is to bring the tariff down," he said.
The need to revisit the deals was an issue in talks for a critical staff-level pact in July with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7-billion bailout.
Earlier on Thursday Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has agreed with five independent power producers to revisit purchase contracts. He said that would save the country 60 billion rupees a year.
Pakistan's biggest private utility, Hub Power Company Ltd (HPWR.PSX), opens new tab, also said the company agreed to prematurely end a contract with the government to buy power from a southwestern generation project.
In a note to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, it said the government had agreed to meet its commitments up to Oct. 1, instead of an initial date of March 2027, in an action taken "in the greater national interest".
Pakistan Aims to Slash Power Prices for EV Charging Stations
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pakistan-aims-slash-power-prices-110...
(Bloomberg) -- Pakistan is looking to stimulate demand for electric vehicles by reducing power prices at charging stations, as the country attempts to kickstart the decarbonization of its transport sector.
The South Asian nation will create demand “by bringing down drastically the prices for new sectors including EVs,” Power Minister Awais Leghari said in an interview. The government is discussing a pricing structure and the incentive would apply to all charging and battery swapping stations for small cars, two-wheelers and three-wheelers, he added.
More than half a dozen auto companies, led by Chinese brands, have launched EV models in Pakistan this year. Chinese EV maker BYD’s local partner Hub signed an agreement with the country’s largest fuel retailer, Pakistan State Oil, this month to jointly establish an EV charging network across the nation.
Meanwhile, the country has seen a drop in electricity demand while prices have soared and the government has had to secure loans from the International Monetary Fund.
As part of the $7 billion loan requirements, the government is working on a flurry of reforms to restore the energy sector’s viability. The nation is in talks to revise purchase contracts with local power companies and reprofiling debt with Chinese lenders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration also wants to move away from the existing model of the government being the sole buyer of electricity, and create a wider market, Leghari said.
The independent market operator system will be functional by March and broader trade is expected to pick up within a year, he said.
Pakistan’s largest independent power producer expands into lithium mining, battery manufacturing
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2577791/pakistan
Hub Power Company’s subsidiary signed a collaboration agreement with Chinese EV giant BYD this year
Its lithium exploration is expected to further boost the manufacturing potential of Pakistan’s auto industry
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s largest independent power producer is set to enter lithium mining, battery manufacturing and electric vehicle (EV) production under Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to state media on Saturday.
Established in 1991, Hub Power Company (Hubco) has an installed generation capacity exceeding 3,500 megawatts and plans to diversify in other areas.
The planned initiatives, facilitated by the SIFC, a hybrid civil-military body established last year to assist foreign investors, aim to meet the country’s growing demand for batteries and electric vehicles.
A lithium exploration and battery production project is expected to reach completion in 12 to 18 months, meeting the rising demand for rechargeable batteries used in mobile phones, laptops and automobiles.
“Hub Power Company Limited’s exploration of lithium in Pakistan will further increase the manufacturing potential in the country’s auto industry,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Work on establishing a manufacturing plant to produce electric vehicles in Pakistan is already underway, which will manufacture fifty thousand electric vehicles annually,” it added.
Earlier this year in June, Hubco’s subsidiary Mega Motor Company signed a collaboration agreement with Chinese EV giant BYD Auto Industry to assemble EVs in Pakistan.
Plans for the EV plant, with a projected annual production of 50,000 vehicles, include 30 to 40 percent allocated for export to markets in Australia and Africa.
HUBCO operates a diverse portfolio of power plants, including oil-fired, coal-based and hydropower facilities, and is also involved in coal mining.
Its new initiatives are expected to strengthen its market position, create employment opportunities and boost domestic capacity for battery production for electronic devices.
Pakistan rolling out a green carpet for global EV makers - Asia Times
https://asiatimes.com/2024/12/pakistan-rolling-out-a-green-carpet-f...
Pakistan’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) policy targets 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption for new vehicles by the end of 2030 and envisions a gradual transition to a zero-emission road fleet by 2060, positioning itself as an emerging player in the global EV market.
In January, China’s BYD partnered with Habibullah Khan to enter Pakistan’s market. Khan’s holding company, Mega Conglomerate, owns Hub Power Company, one of the largest independent power producers (IPPs) in the country. The announcement said the BYD vehicles would be imported rather than produced domestically.
An EV boomlet has followed. Pakistan’s Nishat Group announced its automobile division would debut an EV with South Korea’s Hyundai, while another private enterprise issued a statement committing a US$250 million investment in Pakistan’s EV market.
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While US and UK EV makers face increasingly difficult situations in their home countries, local partnerships with Pakistan-based companies could make strategic sense.
“We’re offering a range of incentives, including tax breaks, subsidies, and investment in infrastructure development,” said Minister Leghari.
“We’re also establishing a one-stop shop for investors, providing them with all the necessary information and support to set up their businesses in Pakistan. Our goal is to create a level playing field for all investors, regardless of their country of origin,” he said.
While EV demand is stalling in some Western countries, it’s growing robustly in Pakistan. And Pakistan’s geographic location connects with South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, providing a gateway not just to Pakistan but to many other countries just starting to adopt EVs.
“Our goal is to create a competitive and business-friendly environment that encourages global automakers to set up their manufacturing facilities in Pakistan and export to regional markets,” Leghari said.
To promote EV manufacturing investment, the government is providing NEV-specific technology zones at reduced cost space, leasing options and green loans. Other financial incentives will include a 1% customs duty on NEV parts and 10% on complete NEV imports until 2027, along with sales tax exemptions for locally manufactured components.
Other incentives include a reduced goods and services tax rate of 1% for EVs, low electricity tariffs and an import duty of only 1% for charging equipment.
Leghari says his ministry is exploring more incentives, such as offering lower financing rates from the state bank to attract global automakers facing challenges in their home markets.
While the prospects for Pakistan’s EV market are promising, there are still several challenges and risks. Like elsewhere, one major hurdle is the lack of charging stations, which obviously is crucial for the widespread EV adoption.
Leghari said the government is promoting public-private partnerships to invest in the development of charging infrastructure. The ministry is also working on standardizing EV charging stations and providing incentives for their installation.
China’s ADM Group announces $250 million investment to set up EV manufacturing plant in Pakistan
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2587338/pakistan
ISLAMABAD: China’s ADM Group will invest $250 million to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Pakistan, state media reported on Wednesday, as Islamabad seeks for Beijing to collaborate in setting up industrial zones to manufacture electronic cars.
The government of Pakistan approved an ambitious National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP) in 2019 with the goal of electric vehicles comprising 30 percent of all passenger vehicle and heavy-duty truck sales by 2030, and an even more ambitious target of 90 percent by 2040. For two- and three-wheelers, as well as buses, the policy set a goal of achieving 50 percent of new sales by 2030 and 90 percent by 2040.
“Chinese Company ADM Group has announced an investment of two hundred and fifty million dollars to set up an EV manufacturing plant in Pakistan,” Radio Pakistan reported, saying the initiative was part of efforts by the Special Investment Facilitation Council set up last year to attract foreign investment.
“Transition to EVs is expected to cut fuel import costs, saving billions of dollars.”
Last year, ADM Group announced an investment of $350 million in Pakistan’s EV sector, saying it would establish more than 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the South Asian country.
Earlier this month, Pakistan said it would cut the power tariff for operators of electric vehicle charging stations by 45 percent as part of the ongoing reform of the energy sector designed to boost demand. The government is also planning to introduce financing schemes for e-bikes and the conversion of two- and three-wheeled petrol vehicles.
The cabinet on Jan. 15 approved a reduced tariff of 39.70 rupees ($0.14) per unit, down from 71.10 rupees previously, which will be in place within a month. The government expects an internal rate of return of more than 20 percent for investors in the sector.
According to a report submitted to the government by power ministry adviser Ammar Habib Khan and reported by Reuters, there are currently more than 30 million two- and three-wheeled vehicles in Pakistan, which consume more than $5 billion worth of petroleum annually.
The ministry plans to convert 1 million two-wheelers to electric bikes in a first phase, at an estimated net cost of 40,000 rupees per bike, according to the report, saving around $165 million in fuel import costs annually.
BYD Pakistan, a partnership between China’s BYD and Pakistani car group Mega Motors, told Reuters in September that up to 50 percent of all vehicles bought in Pakistan by 2030 will be electrified in some form in line with global targets.
Pakistan seeks Swedish green fund assistance
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2524076/pakistan-seeks-swedish-green-f...
Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has invited Sweden Green Fund to assist in conversion of Pakistan's small vehicles into electric technology by providing technical and financial assistance, which will support Pakistan's recent record reduction in tariffs for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The minister put forward the proposal in a meeting with Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg Von Linde on Thursday.
Elaborating on the proposal for the conversion of existing fossil fuel vehicles, especially motorcycles, Leghari said that currently there were over 30 million motorcycles in Pakistan and people falling in that income group had a very good record of retiring loans.
He suggested that the Swedish and EU green fund could consider providing interest-free loans through Pakistani banks, which had put in place a very robust system. Highlighting the current energy mix and the importance of renewable energy, the power minister said that last year 55% of the overall electricity generation in Pakistan came from renewable energy.
"Pakistan is fully committed to promoting renewable energy and in this regard the Power Division is carefully chalking out policies to provide affordable and sustainable electricity to consumers," he stressed. Leghari pointed out that Pakistan was reviewing the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) to ensure the integration of energy into the national grid on a least-cost basis in order to optimise the country's energy resources for maximum economic impact.
The ambassador said "seventy five years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Sweden were celebrated last year. This reflects the strength and depth of our bilateral ties."
She highlighted that Swedish firms operating in Pakistan were keen on securing green energy supply and Sweden was ready to share expertise and provide technological support. The textile sector of Pakistan, being a primary exporter to the European Union, was focusing on growing its global competitiveness in terms of renewable and sustainable energy, the ambassador said. She underscored Sweden's leadership in renewable energy as it produced 70% of energy from renewable resources, showcasing how economic development and green energy could coexist seamlessly.
Yadea Pakistan targets 20% EV market share by 2025
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1275355-yadea-pakistan-targets-20p...
LAHORE: Yadea, the world’s largest producer of electric two-wheelers, unveiled four innovative electric vehicle (EV) models on Wednesday, including the GT 30, as part of its ambitious plan to capture 20 per cent of the country’s EV market by 2025.
Speaking at the launch event, Managing Director of Yadea Pakistan Muhammad Salman highlighted the country’s potential for substantial growth in the EV sector. He attributed this to rising environmental awareness, escalating fuel prices and supportive government initiatives promoting green mobility. Industry projections indicate that the country’s EV market could grow by over 80 per cent by the end of next year, with two-wheelers leading the charge due to their affordability and practicality for urban commuting.
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Islamabad is establishing the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) to look into regulating and legalizing the use of cryptocurrencies, according to media reports. Cryptocurrency refers to digital currencies that can be used to make purchases or investments using encryption algorithms. US President Donald Trump's endorsement of cryptocurrencies and creation of a "bitcoin reserve" has boosted investors’…
ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on March 28, 2025 at 8:30pm — 3 Comments
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ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on March 22, 2025 at 10:30am — 7 Comments
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