Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs) will help save billions of dollars in valuable foreign exchange spent on fuel, support environmental protection efforts, and promote the local industry.

While chairing a meeting on encouraging usage of electric vehicles in the country, the prime minister directed to prepare a comprehensive government-level action plan to make electric vehicles accessible to the common citizen. He announced that the federal government will provide electric bikes to top-performing students of all educational boards across the country, including the federal board.

He further stated that unemployed individuals will be provided with electric rickshaws and loaders on priority, to support employment generation. The prime minister instructed that concrete steps be taken to establish a complete ecosystem for the manufacturing and maintenance of electric vehicles in the country.

He also ordered third-party validation of the entire process of EV distribution and the government support mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability.

Highlighting the need for inclusivity, the prime minister emphasized that economically disadvantaged individuals should be prioritized in the government-supported electric vehicle schemes.

He further directed the launch of a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the government assistance programs for obtaining electric vehicles.

To ensure safety and performance, the prime minister instructed that the electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders to be provided under the proposed scheme must meet high-quality and safety standards.

A briefing was given in the meeting regarding the current status of the industry in the country related to the manufacturing of electric vehicles and the government’s supportive measures to make them accessible to the common people. It was informed in the meeting that the government was taking steps to facilitate the acquisition of electric bikes, rickshaws, and loaders through low-cost loans and easy terms.