Energy Minister inaugurates First EV charging facility of PSO in Islamabad

Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan on Wednesday inaugurated the Pakistan State Oil’s (PSO) first-ever Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging facility here at its Capri petrol station in F-7 sector. 

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, he said the govt would establish 24 more such facilities and its network to be expanded gradually in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of unpolluted and green Pakistan. He said electric charging stations would bring a revolution in the transport system and help control environmental issues like pollution and smog. 

“We have to address the key challenges of environmental protection. Electric vehicles will have a marked edge as they produce almost no running emissions.” Omar Ayub said the country was moving towards the consistent path of progress and development under the leadership of the prime minister, adding amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) prevailing situation, local engineers had exhibited their skills by manufacturing PPE (personal protection equipment) and ventilators. 

Currently, he said imported equipment had been utilized in putting in the EV Charging station, but he was hopeful that young engineers would soon start producing this equipment indigenously.

“EV manufacturing units are going to be established across the country under the National Electric Vehicle Policy which will create new job opportunities and have a positive economic impact”.

He said efforts were being made to produce electricity to consumers on economic rates, adding at this time 70 percent energy-mix needs were met through imported fuel. He said the govt was acting on a policy to extend the electricity production using alternative resources like solar, wind, and coal. “By the year 2030, the electricity production will reach 45,000 MW, out of which 75-80 percent are going to be from alternative and indigenous resources.”

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar said the opening of the charging stations would help encourage electric vehicles as a future mode of transportation within the country. He said electric vehicles would soon be witnessed plying on the roads. 

“Pakistan is moving forward with the aim of reducing pollution and curbing global climate change. We will move to 30% of Renewable Energy in our Energy Mix, along with another 30% of Hydel Power Generation. These efforts including a move towards Electric Vehicles would greatly help in achieving the mission of Prime Minister Imran Khan of a Clean & Green Pakistan,” he said, adding that the govt. was supporting all the stakeholders because the world had adopted this eco-friendly technology. 

PSO administrator Syed Muhammad Taha said, “This is yet one more step as a part of PSO’s ongoing efforts in environmental stewardship.” He said the corporate would still drive the longer term of e-mobility in Pakistan by installing more Electric Vehicle Chargers at various highways and in major cities across the country. 

“PSO is investing in cleaner energy solutions to cut back the carbon footprint and build a more robust environment for our future generations.”

He said, “As we lead the sustainable energy revolution, our next step is that the introduction of Euro-5 standard fuels at PSO stores.”