The Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production reviewed the National Electric Vehicle (NEV) Policy and expressed concerns over theft cases at Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) during a meeting at Parliament House on Friday. In the absence of Chairman Senator Aon Abbas Buppi, members unanimously nominated Senator Khalida Ateeb to preside.
NEV Policy Details and Five-Year Implementation
The Ministry of Industries and Production provided a detailed briefing on the NEV Policy. The ministry secretary informed the committee that the policy will remain in force for five years, consistent with the ministry’s approach since 1990 to ensure continuity and policy stability.
Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan expressed concern over policy inconsistency, noting that businesses often face changes in taxation and regulatory regimes after making investments. She stressed that the ministry must safeguard its policies to maintain investor confidence.
Charging Infrastructure and Subsidies
The secretary stated that the government aims to establish 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2030, with over 72 licenses already issued for installation. Charging stations will be developed under a public-private partnership model, with government support to bridge investors’ viability gap.
Approximately 2.2 million electric vehicles of different categories are projected to be on Pakistan’s roads by 2030. To date, over 12,800 electric vehicles and around 160,000 electric motorcycles have been manufactured locally. The government has allocated Rs9 billion in subsidies for two- and three-wheelers, with eligible buyers receiving Rs80,000 for purchasing an electric motorcycle. Around 5,700 beneficiaries have availed bank financing under the scheme.
Officials said applicants must provide a valid CNIC, bank account, and crossed cheque to qualify. Senator Anusha Rahman recommended that the subsidy be transferred directly to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to improve transparency and implementation. Officials also informed the committee that ownership of subsidised electric motorcycles cannot be transferred for two years.
Climate Change and Urban Pollution Concerns
Senator Mandviwalla appreciated the ministry’s efforts to promote local manufacturing and reduce import dependence but questioned the adequacy of charging infrastructure, noting that Karachi alone would require approximately 4,000 to 5,000 charging stations. He sought details on the number of electric bike manufacturers, production capacity, and infrastructure needed to support widespread EV adoption.
Sharing his personal experience of difficulty locating charging facilities during travel, he emphasised the need to extend charging infrastructure to remote areas. The secretary informed the committee that electric motorcycles with 3–7 kilowatt batteries require only a standard 220-volt power supply for charging, and advancements in battery technology have increased driving range to approximately 400–500 kilometres. Companies including Star Charge and HUBCO have shown interest in establishing charging infrastructure in Pakistan.
Senator Anusha Rahman recommended that the ministries of Industries and Production, Petroleum, and Power jointly present a comprehensive briefing on EV policy implementation at the committee’s next meeting.
Pakistan Steel Mills: Theft and Operational Issues
The committee reviewed affairs of Pakistan Steel Mills, where officials said employees’ salaries had been released two months earlier, including payments to guarantors. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla observed that PSM has remained non-operational for eleven years with no meaningful privatisation progress. He called for a thorough investigation into theft incidents and recommended constituting a sub-committee to examine the matter.
The chairperson took notice of retired employee Saadat Ali, allegedly implicated in a theft case without justification, and directed the ministry to examine the matter on merit and ensure clearance of his post-retirement dues. The committee also discussed the case of another retired employee, Nazar Alam, whose outstanding dues remain unpaid. Officials said required funds had not yet been released but assured payment once allocation is received.
Approximately Rs15 billion in employee-related liabilities of PSM remain pending with the Finance Division.
Security and Theft at PSM
Officials stated that theft incidents have increased since the mill’s closure, with personnel from DSF, local police, and some PSM security staff implicated. The CEO informed the committee that the head of security had been replaced and 83 suspects arrested in the past three months for theft-related offences.
Expressing serious concern over lack of progress in prosecuting theft cases, the committee observed that no culprit had been convicted despite repeated incidents. The chairperson noted that material worth approximately Rs10 billion had reportedly been stolen from PSM. Officials said an inquiry into the matter has remained pending with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) since 2020.
The committee adopted the report of a sub-committee titled “To examine overall problems faced by Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM)” and constituted another sub-committee to examine increasing theft incidents and operational/administrative issues faced by PSM employees. The sub-committee will review the matter in detail and submit its report to the main committee.
The meeting was attended by Senators Masroor Ahsan, Danesh Kumar, and Husna Bano. Senators Saleem Mandviwalla and Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan participated via Zoom.
