Green electric vehicles offer women a quiet path to independence in Pakistan

For many women in Pakistan's federal capital, commuting remains a daily challenge marked by overcrowded public transport,

ISLAMABAD: For many women in Pakistan’s federal capital, commuting remains a daily challenge marked by overcrowded public transport, harassment, long waiting times, unsafe travel conditions and dependence on increasingly expensive ride-hailing services. Against this backdrop, electric scooters and other electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as a safe, affordable and environmentally friendly alternative, offering women greater mobility, financial savings and independence while supporting the country’s transition toward cleaner transportation.

For Minahal Usmani, a psychologist living near Islamabad Expressway, buying an electric scooter has transformed her daily routine. Balancing a clinical internship at a hospital, a full-time job at an immigration consultancy and evening classes for her MS in Psychology requires extensive travel across the capital every day.

Before purchasing the scooter two months ago, she relied on InDrive and other ride-hailing services, spending between Rs40,000 and Rs50,000 each month on transportation. Today, those expenses have been reduced to almost nothing.

“The scooter has not only saved me money but also given me confidence and independence,” Usmani said. “Earlier, I depended on others or ride-hailing services for every journey. Now I can travel safely on my own schedule to work, the hospital, university and anywhere else I need to go.”

She said the scooter requires only two to three hours for a full charge and typically operates for three to four days under her normal commuting routine. Its portable charger allows charging from any standard electrical outlet at home, the office or university, where dedicated EV charging points are also available.

According to Usmani, switching to an electric scooter has enabled her to redirect money previously spent on transportation toward her education and other essential needs. She believes wider adoption of electric vehicles by women could improve access to education and employment while reducing Pakistan’s dependence on imported petroleum products and contributing to cleaner air.

Despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles in urban areas, experts say implementation of Pakistan’s National New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Policy 2025-30 has yet to match its ambitious goals.

Introduced last year, the policy aims for new energy vehicles to account for 30 percent of new vehicle sales by 2030 and 90 percent by 2040. It also seeks to reduce oil imports, lower carbon emissions and promote a domestic green manufacturing industry. However, experts argue that progress in charging infrastructure, local manufacturing, battery recycling and electricity grid readiness has remained limited during the first year of implementation.

Environmental expert Dr Zainab Naeem said the policy presents a promising long-term vision but warned that success would depend on effective implementation, robust monitoring, reliable charging infrastructure, safe battery management and an efficient recycling system.

“Subsidies alone will not drive the transition,” she said. “Consumers also need dependable after-sales services, stable electricity, battery waste management and modern charging infrastructure.”

She called for mandatory EV charging stations along motorways, in commercial buildings, public parking facilities and new housing developments, while also recommending solar-powered smart charging systems, off-peak electricity tariffs and comprehensive battery recycling regulations.

Renewable energy expert Dr Umais Abdul Rahman said the government remains significantly behind many of its policy targets. Although licences have been issued to local manufacturers, production has yet to reach the desired level. Similarly, only around 60 charging stations are currently operational, compared with the policy’s earlier target of 240.

He noted that Pakistan’s transport sector consumes 37 percent of the country’s total energy while accounting for 87 percent of imported petroleum consumption, making transport electrification not only an environmental priority but also an economic necessity.

Rahman recommended allocating at least half of the revenue generated through the Petroleum Development Levy and Climate Support Levy to expanding EV charging infrastructure, clean public transport and electric mobility initiatives.

Senior journalist and child and women’s rights advocate Bushra Iqbal Hussain welcomed the growing use of electric scooters by women in Islamabad and other cities but said several barriers continue to discourage wider adoption.

She cited social attitudes, harassment, inadequate after-sales services, limited maintenance facilities, a shortage of trained mechanics and insufficient rider training as major challenges. According to Hussain, at least five women known to her sold their electric scooters within weeks because they could not access reliable maintenance and after-sales support.

She added that extreme weather conditions, limited experience of riding on busy roads and inadequate traffic training further discourage many women from switching to electric two-wheelers.

“With rising petrol prices, electric scooters offer women an affordable, safe and reliable transport option, particularly in areas where public transport is limited,” she said. “However, the government must invest in charging infrastructure, maintenance services, rider training and women’s safety if it wants to encourage broader adoption.”

Hussain also stressed that Pakistan’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is essential for reducing air pollution and promoting environmental sustainability, but said the transition requires faster investment in EV infrastructure, charging networks, financial incentives, training programmes and clean public transport.

Meanwhile, addressing the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production on July 3, Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Production Captain (Retired) Saif Anjum said the National Electric Vehicle Policy would remain in force for five years to ensure continuity and policy stability.

He told lawmakers that the government aims to establish 3,000 EV charging stations nationwide by 2030. More than 72 charging station licences have already been issued, while future infrastructure will be developed under a public-private partnership model supported by viability gap funding where necessary.

The secretary said Pakistan is expected to have nearly 2.2 million electric vehicles on its roads by 2030. More than 12,800 electric vehicles and approximately 160,000 electric motorcycles have already been manufactured locally.

He further informed the committee that the government has allocated Rs9 billion in subsidies for two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles. Eligible buyers receive a subsidy of Rs80,000 per electric motorcycle, while around 5,700 beneficiaries have already obtained financing under the scheme.

Officials said recent advances in battery technology now allow newer electric vehicles to travel between 400 and 500 kilometres on a single charge, while electric motorcycles equipped with batteries ranging from three to seven kilowatts can be charged using a standard 220-volt household electricity connection.

Experts believe the NEV policy has the potential to transform Pakistan’s transport sector by reducing carbon emissions, lowering dependence on imported fuel and promoting sustainable industrial growth. They argue, however, that achieving these objectives will require effective implementation, stronger charging infrastructure, greater investment in local manufacturing and sustained public confidence. They also see electric vehicles as more than a climate solution, describing them as a practical tool for expanding women’s mobility, strengthening economic empowerment and improving access to education and employment across Pakistan.