Pakistan, China Plan EV Partnership at September Business Forum

Pakistan is actively seeking to deepen its cooperation with China in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, focusing on technological advancements and industrial collaboration. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of EVs as a key future area of partnership, highlighting the development of next-generation sodium-ion batteries as a significant innovation over traditional lithium technology. Pakistan plans to establish local EV manufacturing to reduce fossil fuel dependence, create jobs, and offer cost advantages to Chinese companies. The upcoming Pakistan-China Business Conference, expected to feature over 450 companies from both countries, aims to facilitate partnerships across EVs and other sectors like solar energy and agriculture. Pakistan's National Electric Vehicle Policy 2025-2030 sets ambitious goals, including 30% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030 and a net-zero transport target by 2060, supported by tax incentives, subsidies, and infrastructure development. Chinese firms such as BYD and Chery are already active in Pakistan, contributing to EV assembly and infrastructure expansion, with hopes of Pakistan becoming a regional EV production hub.