Federal Minister for Energy Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has said Battery Energy Storage Systems will play a central role not only in stabilising Pakistan’s power grid but also in supporting the wider rollout of electric vehicles across the country. Addressing the Battery Energy Storage Systems Conference organised by the Pakistan Solar Association in Lahore, the minister said the widespread adoption of electric vehicles would place additional pressure on the country’s electricity distribution network unless backed by adequate battery storage infrastructure.
Leghari said the government envisions an integrated energy ecosystem in which rooftop solar panels, battery storage, smart grids, and electric vehicles work together to improve efficiency and maximise the use of renewable energy. He described Pakistan’s energy transition as entering a defining phase, with renewable energy, digitalisation, distributed generation, battery storage, and electric mobility together expected to shape the future of the country’s power sector.
On the manufacturing side, the minister said the government is promoting indigenous production of battery systems through a dedicated Battery Energy Storage Systems Manufacturing Policy currently being developed by the Ministry of Industries and Production. He said the policy would encourage domestic and foreign investment, facilitate technology transfer, strengthen local supply chains, and create skilled employment, with the long term objective of positioning Pakistan as a regional hub for battery manufacturing rather than remaining reliant on imports.
The push toward local battery production has been gathering pace over recent months. Pakistan’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant, being developed by EV Technologies in Karachi’s Korangi Industrial Area, is expected to become operational in the coming months, initially producing batteries for electric bikes, e-scooters, and electric vehicles with a starting capacity sufficient to supply around 2,000 units per month. Separately, the government has been working to attract Chinese investment for lithium-ion cell manufacturing, with industrial conglomerate Saigol Group signing an agreement with China’s Juhang Energy Technology Group, and officials estimating domestic demand for lithium-ion batteries could reach between 65 and 100 gigawatts by 2030 depending on economic growth.
Leghari stressed that battery systems imported, manufactured, or assembled in Pakistan must meet strict international standards, with the Ministry of Energy directing stakeholders to adopt International Electrotechnical Commission certification requirements to ensure consumer safety and system reliability. He added that battery storage technology holds particular potential for strengthening isolated grids in Gilgit-Baltistan, improving electricity reliability in Gwadar, and integrating renewable energy in remote areas that have historically struggled with consistent power supply. With a Federal Steering Committee on BESS already established to coordinate national policy, and multiple battery manufacturing agreements already signed with Chinese investors, officials are positioning energy storage as a foundational technology for Pakistan’s broader shift toward electric mobility and a more resilient, renewable powered national grid.
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