Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, which was earlier approved by the federal cabinet, was met with criticism from significant stakeholders from the auto sector. The EV policy was put forth by the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), and it was the first-ever EV policy in the country. A meeting was chaired by the advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries & Production, Commerce, and Investment, Abdul Razzak Dawood, on Thursday. In this meeting, it was decided that the EV policy will be redrafted and implemented by the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) with the help of the Engineering Development Board (EDB).
The meeting on Thursday was attended by major stakeholders like Pakistan Association of Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Planning Commission of Pakistan, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries and Production and leading auto manufacturers. Earlier, the criticism hovered around on not including all stakeholders in due discussions to draft an EV policy. This time all the major stakeholders were invited to hold consultations.
Mr. Abdul Razzak Dawood stated that the new EV policy would be presented by the Ministry of Industries and Production and Engineering Development Board in a month. He also asserted that the EV policy would be the domain of the Ministry of Industries and Production. The auto sector expressed its contentment with this decision as a technical organization will now be heading the EV policy. This makes the most relevance compared to when the Ministry of Climate Change was spearheading the EV policy.
The meeting also focused on non-tariff and tariff proposals for the EV sector. The Engineering Development Board asked the participants to expedite the submission of proposals for the EV policy. The main discussion topics of the meeting included proposals by stakeholders to invest under the Auto Policy 2016-2021 in the EV sector, employment generation, standardization of equipment, impact on the national exchequer, promotion of localization, and the long-run export of spare parts for EVs. The advisor added that the investment in the EV would be safeguarded in order to make this policy successful, a joint effort is required from all the stakeholders. The EV policy will now be drafted in a way to meet and best suit the needs of all the stakeholders and the country.
The chairman of the EDB expressed his gratitude to the advisor for attending the meeting and clarifying ambiguities in the EV policy. It was the 30th meeting of the Auto Industry Development Committee (AIDC). The EDB has assured the committee that it will present the new EV policy draft within the given time frame. The EDB will emphasize the “Make in Pakistan” agenda in drafting this policy. Only essential parts will be imported for the EVs, and the rest of the parts will have local manufacturing.
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