Govt Planning Massive Cut in Charging Price for Electric Cars
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The government has requested NEPRA to revise electricity rates for EV charging stations. According to the proposal, electricity may be provided at Rs. 23.57 per unit. However, after tax adjustments, the cost for charging stations is expected to rise to Rs. 39 per unit, still 45% lower than the current price.
To manage the difference between the existing and proposed tariffs, the government has suggested using a cross-subsidy mechanism. The plan aims to ensure that 30% of vehicles in Pakistan transition to electric by 2030. At present, EV charging stations are paying Rs. 45 per unit, but after adding taxes, the cost increases to Rs. 71.10 per unit.
The government believes that these new tariff rates will help accelerate EV adoption. All applicable taxes and adjustments will be included in the revised rates.
A hearing on this request was conducted under NEPRA’s chairman. During the session, the case officer revealed that the government has proposed lowering the base tariff from Rs. 45.54 per unit to Rs. 23.57 per unit. Currently, EV consumers pay up to Rs. 70 per unit for charging services.
The Power Division pointed out that EV infrastructure in Pakistan remains underdeveloped, with only eight charging stations operating across the country. To tackle climate change challenges, the government plans to open the market and attract more investors to the EV sector.
Following consultations with stakeholders, the authorities decided to revise the regulatory framework. The Cabinet has approved a reduction in base tariffs for EV charging stations, aiming to make electric vehicles more affordable. Lower charging costs are expected to encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles.
Officials from the Power Division shared that the commercial electricity tariff stands at nearly Rs. 94 per unit, though it is not fully applied. At present, consumers pay around Rs. 70 per unit. Over the last year, only 94,000 electricity units were consumed by EV charging stations, with the total number of EV users in Pakistan ranging between 7,000 and 8,000.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2025/02/14/govt-planning-massive-cut-in-charging-price-for-electric-cars/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
