PM advisor on climate change Malik Amin Aslam said on Friday that the implementation of electric vehicle (EV) policy would help to promote the transportation sector of the country in the years to come.

Addressing a launch ceremony of the country’s first fully electric three-wheeled vehicles, he said the EV policy had been formulated after consultations with all stakeholders had been integrated.

In partnership with the Investment Board and Sazgar Engineering Works Limited, the Ministry of Climate Change organized the event ‘Showcasing Pakistan’s First Fully-Electric Three-Wheel Vehicle.’

He said the overarching EV policy, approved by PM Imran Khan on Nov 5 last year, would help boost the country’s pollution-free transportation facilities.

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Aslam said the EV scheme had four main advantages as these vehicles would run at 70 per cent lower cost compared to their fuel-based equivalent.

The introduction of electric vehicles in the country would also help cut oil import bills, yield innumerable environmental benefits, the overall lifestyle of people and the way our cities look, the adviser added.

He said efforts were being made to localize EV production, enabling Pakistan to become part of the global electric vehicle value chain.

He said the EV policy and economic incentives to produce electric vehicles locally would also be extended to the automobile manufacturing sector.

Listing the advantages of electric vehicles, Aslam said “Electric vehicles do not emit smoke and are safer, do not cause noise pollution and also reduce the fuel costs.”

“Climate-causing carbon dioxide emissions from conventional vehicles lead to ambient greenhouse gasses and exacerbate climate change and overall environmental degradation, causing health problems.”

“Conversely, all-electric vehicles don’t produce climate change-causing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere,” he added.