A review on Pakistan’s Electrical Vehicle (EV) policies: Lessons from South Asian countries

Pakistan is one of the most populated countries in the world and has a rapidly rising population, increasing the need of sustainable transportation. Some of Pakistan's major urban cities are highly affected by air pollution and are among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world due to unsustainable ways of mobility. Many countries have set their targets to decarbonize transportation by deploying Electric Vehicles (EVs). Pakistan has also done so in its EV policies of 2019 and 2021. However, marginal progress has been made towards achieving those targets. Prior research offers little insight into why policies have failed to deliver at its core and what lessons could be learned from other countries toward a successful path of EV adoption, with similar socio-economic dynamics. This study reviews existing EV policies in Pakistan and identifies the flaws and barriers to their implementation. It also highlights the role of financial institutions in devising policies to make a practical and rational policy that is comprehensive and implementable. The review study will be valuable for researchers, policymakers, and financial institutions (central bank/ development banks) to integrate while devising EV policies to successfully promote transportation electrification in Pakistan and other South Asian countries.