LAHORE: Director General of the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), Abdul Waheed Khan, has cautioned the government against extending subsidies to substandard electric vehicles (EVs), warning that such support could undermine consumer confidence and derail the country’s transition to clean mobility.
He noted that despite subsidies, consumers still invest significant amounts from their own pockets and must not be compelled to buy EVs equipped with low-quality batteries marketed as advanced technology. “Over 90% of electric two-wheelers being sold in Pakistan use lead-acid batteries with a thin graphene coating—it’s misleading,” he stated.
Waheed warned that once consumers lose trust after purchasing unreliable vehicles, they may abandon EVs altogether, reversing years of progress in promoting sustainable transport.
Under the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Programme 2025–30, only EVs featuring lithium-ion or other advanced battery technologies are eligible for Rs122 billion in subsidies. Lithium batteries, he explained, provide superior energy storage, faster charging, longer life, and higher efficiency compared to outdated technologies.
He also highlighted that no local manufacturer currently offers more than a 24-month battery warranty, whereas global standards ensure at least five-year coverage for lithium batteries.
Urging transparency, Waheed criticised inaccurate production data appearing in some reports and called on the government to allocate national resources only to proven, safe, and reliable technologies that truly support Pakistan’s EV roadmap.
