Electric vehicles (EVs) are often seen as the future of transportation. But in Pakistan, they are facing many challenges. Suneel Munj, the co-founder of PakWheels, shared his thoughts on why EVs aren’t growing as fast as expected in Pakistan. He was speaking on a podcast called “How Does It Work?”, hosted by Shayan Mahmud. Munj described EVs in Pakistan as “toys for big boys,” meaning that so far, only the rich people can afford them.
Policies That Benefit the Rich
The Pakistani government created a policy to promote electric vehicles, hoping to make them more common in the country. However, according to Munj, this policy has mostly benefited wealthy people. The policy allows rich people to bring in expensive, high-end EVs at lower tax rates. At the same time, regular petrol cars are taxed heavily, making them even more expensive. This means that instead of making EVs available to everyone, the policy has made them even more accessible to the rich, while regular people struggle to afford them.
Broken Promises About Taxes and Registration Fees
One of the biggest promises made by the government was to remove taxes and high registration fees for EVs. Munj explained that these fees were a major barrier to buying electric cars. The government said it would get rid of these fees to encourage people to buy EVs. However, those promises were never kept. Different provinces in Pakistan have their own rules, and because of that, the relief that was promised never happened.
Another issue is that the system for registering EVs is confusing. In Pakistan, the registration system changes kilowatt-hours (kWh), which measure the power of electric cars, into cubic centimeters (cc), a system used for petrol cars. This makes the whole process difficult and confusing. No other country uses this method, which only adds to the problems of EV adoption.
Problems with Electricity and Infrastructure
One of the biggest challenges for EVs in Pakistan is the country’s electricity supply. Pakistan faces frequent power outages, both in cities and rural areas. If people can’t even keep their lights on at home, they will naturally be worried about being able to charge their EVs. This leads to something called “range anxiety”—the fear that your car will run out of power and you won’t be able to find a place to charge it. Until the electricity problem is fixed, many people will be reluctant to switch to electric cars.
High Taxes and People’s Views on EVs
Shayan Mahmud, the podcast host, also asked Munj if the government still treats cars as luxury items. This is important because cars in Pakistan are taxed heavily, and that drives the price up by more than 50%. Munj agreed, saying that because EVs are more expensive to begin with, the extra taxes make them even harder to afford. He pointed out that most people in Pakistan use affordable two-wheelers (motorbikes or scooters) for transportation. So, expensive electric cars are only attractive to a small, wealthy group of people, while the majority of people are left out.
Hope for Affordable Electric Two-Wheelers
Even though electric cars face many challenges in Pakistan, there is still hope for electric two-wheelers. Munj believes that electric motorcycles and scooters could succeed in Pakistan because they are cheaper and easier to maintain than electric cars. They could fill a gap in the market, especially if they are made locally.
Some companies in Pakistan are already starting to make parts for electric vehicles, which could help reduce costs in the future. However, important parts like batteries and motors still have to be imported, which keeps prices high.
What Needs to Change for EVs to Succeed
For electric vehicles to really succeed in Pakistan, a lot of things need to change. Munj believes the government needs to focus on creating better policies that are not just for the rich. The infrastructure for charging EVs must be improved so people can easily charge their cars. Fair taxation is also important—taxes should not make EVs harder to afford.
Additionally, the government must keep its promises and make sure that all provinces have the same rules for EVs. Only then will people feel comfortable buying electric cars. If these changes happen, EVs can move beyond being “toys for big boys” and become a real option for everyone in Pakistan.
Final Words EVs Need More Than Just Fancy Cars
In the end, electric vehicles could offer a cleaner, more efficient future for Pakistan. However, without the right policies, infrastructure, and affordable prices, they will remain out of reach for most people. The government needs to step up and make real changes to help people adopt EVs in Pakistan. Only then can the country move towards a future where everyone can drive an electric car.
