In a session with the local media, the Federal Minister Science & Technology, Fawad Chaudhry announced that Skywell Automobile will be bringing in an investment of 50 million dollars to launch electric buses in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s intra-city local transport system is about to be overhauled as the Ministry of Science and Technology moves ahead with its plan of introducing electric buses for the first time in the country’s history. The federal government has from time and again expressed environmental concerns related to vehicular emissions.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Khan, after completing a billion-tree tsunami project in KPK, the country is now on its way of meeting its target of growing 10 Billion trees in different parts of Pakistan. It’s noteworthy that the country achieved its UN climate action goal 10 years ahead of the deadline. Pakistan is ranked among the most vulnerable nations to climate change. The government is working tirelessly to contain the devastation from climate change by reinvigorating the environment.
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Electric buses will be another leap towards reducing greenhouse emissions responsible for environmental degradation – and eventually climate change.
Fawad Chaudhry, the minister for science and technology announced that Skywell Automobile, a Chinese company, will invest 50 million dollars in the country’s transport sector.
The minister has also hinted at the local manufacturing of these electric buses, in the second phase. This is likely to generate many jobs and will help in reducing the cost of buses. In the first phase, the company will begin rolling its buses on the roads of Islamabad and Lahore – which will begin by the end of this year.
Initially, the investment of USD 50 million is planned for the first phase.
Local manufacturing of buses: Economic growth and job opportunities
A signing ceremony of Strategic Alliance Agreement between Daewoo Pakistan and Skywell Automobile took place at Serena Hotel in Islamabad last week, where the Federal Minister was invited as a chief guest.
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Pakistan’s leading inter-city transport company Daewoo Express which is providing one of the safest and highest standard services in the country has already inked a deal with Skywell Automobiles China. According to the agreement, both the companies will jointly work toward launching the electric buses. Daewoo Express Pakistan will help Skywell Automobiles China establish a strong technical base in the country. This will ensure local repairing and up-gradation of buses.
Fawad Chaudhry expressed his delight pertaining to the said development, stating that this venture will usher in a new age for Pakistan, boosting economic growth and job opportunities, while also ensuring a clean and green Pakistan.
He also said that a value chain for electric transport will be established in Pakistan. He added that the battery bus service will be made operational before 2021 in Pakistan.
Electric vehicles policy for four-wheelers set to be announced
In another development, Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Hammad Azhar tweeted that the policy for four-wheel electric vehicles (EV) is currently in the works and a proposal will be presented before the cabinet soon after the Ministries of Climate Change and Science & Tech offer their consultation pertaining to the matter.
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Previously we announced Electric Vehicle policy for 2-3 wheelers, buses and trucks. We are now working on EV policy for 4 wheelers and will be presenting policy proposals to cabinet in this regards after consultations with Ministries of Climate Change and Science & Tech.
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) September 3, 2020
He also informed via his twitter statement, that the Engineering Development Board is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries to review the prevalent policy for the automotive sector. The tweet further says that both entities are exploring options to help mitigate the practice where the automakers charge a premium due to overbooking of vehicles.