Summary: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan’s goal is to increase the share of electric vehicles in new vehicle sales to 30 percent by 2030. He highlighted the promotion of solar energy and changes in the energy sector to transition to clean energy on the occasion of COP 31, however, he called the lack of financial resources a major challenge in achieving the goals.
Antalya: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan has set a target of increasing the share of electric vehicles in new vehicle sales to 30 percent by 2030, while steps are also being taken to use solar energy and transition to clean energy in the country.
Addressing a high-level meeting on the transition to clean energy on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Conference COP 31 in Antalya, Turkey, the Prime Minister said that significant changes are taking place in Pakistan’s energy sector.
Shahbaz Sharif also congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the organization of COP 31 and stressed the importance of global cooperation for the promotion of clean energy.
The Prime Minister said that work is being done rapidly in the solar energy sector in Pakistan and the use of solar energy by citizens has also increased. In the last two years, about 22 thousand MW of rooftop solar capacity has been added in the country.
He said that the government has set a target to promote the use of electric vehicles by 2030 under the new auto policy. The aim of this initiative is to reduce dependence on traditional fuels in the transport sector and increase the use of clean energy.
While mentioning the progress made in the energy sector, Shahbaz Sharif also called Pakistan’s nuclear energy projects important and said that work is being done on various means to increase the production of clean energy in the country.
However, the Prime Minister acknowledged that achieving the set targets without the availability of adequate financial resources and financing is a big challenge. According to him, investment and financial support are needed to promote electric vehicles in Pakistan.
The National Electric Vehicle Policy 2025-30 has also been introduced to promote electric vehicles in Pakistan, under which the target of increasing the share of electric vehicles in new vehicle sales to 30 percent by 2030 has been set.
Under this policy, attention is also being paid to the local manufacturing of electric vehicles, establishment of charging stations and development of related industries.
This change in the energy sector also has important economic aspects for Pakistan, as increasing the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy can help reduce dependence on imported fuel. However, to achieve this goal, adequate charging infrastructure, availability of affordable vehicles, local production and long-term investment will be necessary.
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