The federal government is working on plans to install approximately 40 Level 3 ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations along Pakistan’s motorway network and the N-5 national highway, spaced at intervals of approximately 120 kilometres to enable uninterrupted long-distance electric vehicle travel and address the range anxiety that has been one of the most persistent barriers to electric vehicle adoption in the country. The government will provide Rs2,250 million in viability gap funding through a public-private partnership model to support charging stations in locations where private investment alone may not be commercially feasible, with the initiative sitting within a broader plan to install 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide by 2030.
Level 3 charging, also known as DC fast charging, is capable of replenishing an electric vehicle battery to 80 percent in approximately 20 to 30 minutes under optimal conditions, making it the only category of charging infrastructure practical for motorway rest stops where drivers cannot be expected to wait several hours for a full charge. The 120-kilometre spacing between planned stations is designed to align with the real-world range capabilities of the electric vehicles currently available in Pakistan’s market, ensuring that drivers of mainstream electric models can complete intercity journeys without anxiety about running out of charge between stops. The placement at motorway rest areas also ensures that the charging infrastructure is co-located with food, bathroom, and rest facilities, making the charging experience practical and comfortable for long-distance travellers.
The policy also brings oil marketing companies into the transition, with at least 10 percent of fuel stations operated by each company in every province required to install Level 3 fast chargers, integrating electric vehicle infrastructure into Pakistan’s existing refuelling network rather than building a parallel system from scratch. This requirement is significant because it leverages the existing footprint of Pakistan’s already-deployed petrol station network, which covers far more of the country’s geography than any new-build charging network could achieve in the near term. For oil marketing companies, the mandate represents both a compliance obligation and a commercial opportunity, as electric vehicle charging is expected to become an increasingly significant revenue stream as fleet electrification accelerates through the latter half of the decade. The initiative builds on early private-sector investments already underway, including the BYD-MMC, Pakistan State Oil, and HUBCO Green partnership that installed Pakistan’s first fast charger at the Bhera Service Area on the M-2 Motorway, which demonstrated the viability of the model and provided a reference point for the broader rollout now being planned.
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