EV chargers every 50 km on motorways and N-5: 40 fast-charging stations first, 3,000 by 2030

Pakistan plans public fast chargers for electric vehicles about every 50 kilometres on its motorways and major highways, starting with 40 fast-charging stations on the motorways and parts of the N-5 (GT Road), the Ministry of Industries and Production said in a written reply to the National Assembly, ProPakistani reported on Sunday 25 October, citing ARY News. The reply answered a question from MNA Malik Shakir Bashir Awan.

The longer target is around 3,000 public charging stations nationwide by 2030 under the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Policy 2025-30. The ministry gave no date for finishing the first 40 and no cost.

What the plan includes

• Spacing: chargers at intervals of about 50 km on major highways, with the motorways and selected N-5 sections first.
• Fuel stations: petrol pumps will be encouraged to add EV charging units.
• Three kinds of charger: fast chargers on highways, plus Level 2 and Level 1 points for slower charging.
• Bikes and rickshaws: battery-swapping stations for electric two- and three-wheelers.
• Investors: a dedicated commercial electricity tariff for charging stations, faster grid connections, and public-private partnerships with viability gap funding. The ministry said 3,800 investors expressed interest in running charging stations last year.
• Old batteries: a regulatory framework and a national network for collecting, reusing and recycling lithium-ion batteries is being drawn up.

What it means if you drive an EV

Range anxiety on the M-2 and the M-9 is the main reason many buyers still pick a hybrid. A fast charger every 50 km would put one within reach of any electric car on the market, and one of the motorways already has ultrafast chargers, ProPakistani noted. Until the network exists, plan long trips around the chargers that are open now: BYD has announced 1,500 kW flash chargers for Pakistan (our report).

Weighing an EV against a petrol car? Our fuel cost calculator shows what a trip costs at today's petrol price, the electricity bill calculator shows what home charging adds to your bill, and the car loan calculator works out the instalment. Current car prices are on our car price list.