McDonald’s Pakistan has partnered with StarCharge, a Chinese provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and smart energy solutions, to explore the development of EV charging facilities across the country. The agreement was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Islamabad on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Under the agreement, StarCharge and McDonald’s Pakistan will look into opportunities to set up charging facilities at suitable McDonald’s locations nationwide. The proposed collaboration combines StarCharge’s expertise in EV charging technology with the extensive customer network that McDonald’s Pakistan has built through its restaurants. The arrangement is expected to support charging access at locations that offer drive-through services, which are well placed for drivers who already make short stops along their routes. The agreement is framed as an exploration of opportunities rather than a confirmed rollout, and details such as the number of stations, their specific locations, and a timeline were not outlined in the coverage of the signing.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain addressed the signing ceremony and welcomed the move. The minister said an accessible charging network is essential to make electric vehicles practical and popular among the public, and warned that difficulty in finding charging points can undermine how usable and efficient these vehicles are for owners. He also pointed to the importance of charging infrastructure along motorways and on long-distance routes, even as the driving range of electric vehicles continues to improve. Welcoming StarCharge’s entry into Pakistan, the minister said he had visited the company’s factory in China and examined its manufacturing facilities, describing it as one of the leading companies in EV charging solutions. He added that the government had invited the company to establish charging stations in Pakistan, and that it welcomed the agreement with McDonald’s Pakistan as a step toward installing charging facilities at drive-through locations.
The minister further said that initiatives of this kind show how the private sector can contribute to national efforts to promote clean energy, reduce environmental pollution, and build a greener Pakistan. He noted that the country needs innovative partnerships that turn technological advancement into practical benefits for citizens, and that wider charging infrastructure will not only help EV users but also encourage greater private sector participation in sustainable development. He appreciated the commitment of both companies to exploring investment in green infrastructure and expressed hope that their cooperation would encourage other businesses to adopt similar environmentally responsible initiatives. The minister also said Pakistan has launched an EV initiative under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with a vision to make 30 percent of vehicles electric, including cars, motorcycles, and three-wheelers, a target that depends heavily on drivers being able to find reliable places to charge.
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