Pakistan EV Policy 2026 Update: The 2 Million by 2030 Target, Electric Rickshaw Rules, and the Charging Network

The federal government and Punjab have published two important updates to Pakistan’s electric-vehicle policy in September 2026: a streamlined registration process for electric rickshaws, scooters, and three-wheelers, and the first wave of publicly funded fast-charging stations on the M2 motorway and the major intercity routes. The 2 million EVs by 2030 target is still on track, with electric two- and three-wheelers expected to be 70% of the count by that date. Here is what changed for buyers, drivers, and the charging network in the last 60 days.

The federal EV policy was first launched in 2024 as part of the broader Auto Industry Development and Export Plan. The policy set a target of 2 million electric vehicles on Pakistani roads by 2030, broken down as roughly 1.4 million two- and three-wheelers, 0.5 million passenger cars, and 0.1 million commercial vehicles (buses, trucks, delivery vans). The September 2026 updates tighten the regulatory framework for the largest segment — the two- and three-wheeler market — and add the infrastructure that the policy needs to deliver on its target.

What the new electric rickshaw rules look like

The Punjab Transport Department published the new Electric Rickshaw and Three-Wheeler Registration Rules 2026 in the Punjab Gazette on 14 September, with federal alignment from the National Electric Vehicle Task Force. The key changes are:

• All new electric rickshaws sold in Pakistan from 1 January 2027 must have a Type Approval certificate from the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA)
• The federal subsidy of Rs 50,000 per electric rickshaw is now disbursed at the point of sale rather than as a later refund, which removes the cash-flow barrier that limited uptake in 2024 and 2025
• Used electric rickshaws imported as personal baggage are exempt from the 65% import duty if the rickshaw is more than 1 year old and the import is for personal use, not commercial
• The driving licence requirement is Rs 100 flat-rate, instead of the regular schedule, and is valid for 5 years instead of 3
• The road tax exemption for electric rickshaws is extended through 2030, instead of expiring in 2028

For a typical buyer of a new electric rickshaw, the policy stack now delivers the following effective discount against the unsubsidised price:

Manufacturer price is the indicative mid-range for a Chinese-assembled 1,000-watt lead-acid e-rickshaw; lithium-iron-phosphate models are Rs 80,000 to Rs 150,000 more. The policy stack applies nationwide, not just Punjab.

What the federal subsidy now covers

The federal subsidy was first introduced in the FY 2024-25 budget at Rs 50,000 per electric two-wheeler and Rs 100,000 per electric three-wheeler, with the refund processed through the State Bank. In practice, only 12% of eligible buyers claimed the refund in 2024 and 2025 because the cash-flow barrier (paying the full price upfront, waiting 6-12 months for the refund) was too large for rickshaw drivers, who typically finance the purchase through informal channels. The September 2026 change moves the subsidy to the dealer point of sale: the buyer pays Rs 50,000 less than the sticker price, the dealer claims the refund from the State Bank within 30 days, and the dealer is audited annually on the subsidy flow.

What the charging network looks like in September 2026

The Punjab Energy Department and the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) have commissioned the first wave of publicly funded fast-charging stations. The current network has 23 stations live across 8 cities, with another 47 stations under construction and expected by March 2027. The current and pipeline network:

The M2 motorway stations are the most-watched because they unlock intercity EV use for the first time. The two stations will be at the Burhan interchange (Islamabad side) and the Sial Morr interchange (Lahore side), each with 8 fast-charging slots and a battery-swap facility for two- and three-wheelers.

What fast-charging costs at the public network

The tariff at the publicly funded stations is set by NEPRA at Rs 65 per kWh for fast charging and Rs 45 per kWh for slow charging. For a typical passenger EV (a 40 kWh battery like the MG ZS EV or the BYD Atto 3), a full fast-charge from 10% to 80% costs about Rs 1,800, equivalent to roughly Rs 50 per litre of petrol at current mileage assumptions. For an electric rickshaw with a 5 kWh battery, a full slow-charge costs about Rs 225, equivalent to roughly Rs 25 per litre of petrol at typical rickshaw mileage.

What the September 2026 changes mean for buyers

The combined effect of the policy stack and the charging network is that an electric rickshaw in Pakistan in late 2026 is now financially competitive with a petrol rickshaw on a 5-year total-cost-of-ownership basis, where in 2024 and 2025 it was not. The rickshaw driver who finances the purchase at the typical informal rate (3-5% per month) can now come out ahead in month 28 to 36 of ownership, compared to month 48 to 60 in the older policy stack.

For a passenger EV buyer, the financial case is still marginal at the current fuel-price and subsidy levels. The breakeven point for an MG ZS EV versus a comparable petrol SUV is at 6 to 7 years of ownership under typical urban driving patterns, which is at the edge of the typical new-car finance term. The federal subsidy of Rs 750,000 per imported EV (Rs 1.5 million for locally assembled EVs) only applies to the first 10,000 vehicles and is now fully allocated.

What the charging network still doesn’t cover

The honest list of gaps as of September 2026:

• No public fast-charging stations on the M1, M3, M4, or M5 motorways — only the M2 is in the pipeline
• No public charging stations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, or most of Balochistan outside Quetta
• No tariff integration with private stations; the network pricing is for public stations only, and private stations (in malls and office buildings) charge Rs 80-120 per kWh
• No battery-swap network outside of Lahore and Karachi, despite the e-rickshaw battery-swap model being the lowest-cost option for rickshaw drivers
• No time-of-use tariff that would let drivers charge at off-peak rates, even though the grid has spare capacity overnight

What to watch in October to December 2026

1. The Sindh EV rules, expected to mirror Punjab’s, due in late October
2. The Peshawar-to-Islamabad intercity corridor charging stations, targeted for November 2026
3. The first battery-swap stations under the federal pilot, expected in Lahore in December 2026
4. The federal review of the EV policy in January 2027, which will set the subsidy framework for the next fiscal year
5. The local assembly update for the JAC e-jasper and Changan Lumin in Pakistan, which are the most likely new EV models for the 2026-27 market

Electric two- and three-wheelers are no longer a question of if but when. The federal subsidy was the missing piece to get past the cash-flow barrier, and the charging network is now sufficient for urban and intercity use in the three largest cities.
— Pakistan Electric Vehicle Task Force member, in the September 2026 briefing

Quick answers

How much is the federal subsidy for an electric rickshaw?

Rs 50,000 per electric rickshaw, disbursed at the point of sale as a price discount. The federal subsidy for electric two-wheelers is Rs 50,000 and for electric three-wheelers it is Rs 100,000.

Where are the public fast-charging stations?

Currently 23 live stations across Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Hyderabad, and Quetta. Another 47 are under construction and expected by March 2027.

Is there a charging station on the motorway?

Two M2 motorway stations are under construction at the Burhan and Sial Morr interchanges, expected by March 2027. The other motorways (M1, M3, M4, M5) have no public fast-charging stations.

What is the road tax exemption for electric rickshaws?

Full exemption from road tax through 2030, recently extended from the original 2028 expiry.