Every day, millions of vehicles move across Pakistan’s road and almost all of them run on petrol or diesel. What if every vehicle in Pakistan ran on electricity instead? The consequences would go beyond quieter engines and cleaner streets, reshaping Pakistan’s economy, energy security and environmental future in profound ways. If the country’s vehicles largely became electric, a huge portion of its oil demand could simply disappear. Oil markets are in trouble due to wars, geopolitical tensions, sanctions and supply cuts that have sent prices soaring. Electrification of vehicles gradually reduces this vulnerability.
The environmental benefits would be equally significant. Cleaner air would lower health care costs and improve productivity. Even partial electrification could dramatically reduce oil imports, improve air quality and strengthen Pakistan’s energy independence. Instead of relying on crude oil shipped across oceans, Pakistan’s mobility could be powered by electricity generated from its own renewable resources, which is cleaner, cheaper and more secure.
Shafi Ahmed Khowaja
Hyderabad
