Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed that efforts for promoting electric vehicles (EVs) in the country be accelerated.

He expressed these views while chairing a review meeting on promoting electric vehicles in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

“In view of the prevailing regional situation and the requirements of the future, the promotion of EVs will not only reduce the fuel import bill, but it is also extremely important for protecting the environment and energy security,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

According to the statement, the prime minister directed that transparency be ensured in the subsidy provided on electric motorcycles for low-income individuals under the National Electric Vehicle Policy.

It added that the meeting was also briefed on ongoing steps to promote EVs nationwide.

The meeting was told that 72 certificates were issued for the manufacturing electric motorcycles and rickshaws, while four certificates were issued for the manufacturing of EVs.

The meeting was also told that so far, 123 applications had been received for the establishment of EV charging stations.

Further, the meeting was told that planning was underway to shift 30 per cent of vehicles across the country onto electricity, which would conserve fuel amounting to approximately $4.5 billion, the statement said.

The meeting was briefed that electric motorbikes would be provided to government employees of Grade 16 on easy installments, it added.

In January, the government launched the Pakistan Accel­erated Vehicle Elect­rification (PAVE) scheme to accelerate the country’s transition tow­ards clean, affordable and sustainable transportation, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support the growth of domestic electric vehicle manufacturing.