Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan for establishing strategic crude oil reserves, while simultaneously accelerating the country’s transition towards electric vehicles (EVs) as part of a broader energy security strategy.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister to review the country’s energy outlook and future requirements. Officials briefed the meeting that work is underway on a framework to build and maintain oil reserves to safeguard against supply disruptions and meet long-term demand.
The prime minister emphasised that energy security remains a critical component of national planning, particularly in light of evolving regional dynamics. He noted that timely conservation measures had helped Pakistan avoid a potential energy crisis in recent months.
Alongside the reserves plan, the government is aiming to shift a significant portion of the transport sector towards cleaner energy. Officials informed the meeting that a strategy is being developed to ensure that 30% of vehicles in the country are converted to electric within the next five years, a move expected to save billions in fuel import costs.
The prime minister also directed that government procurement gradually transition to electric mobility, stating that only electric buses and motorcycles should be purchased for official use in the future.
To support the shift, he called for a policy framework that makes battery storage more accessible, particularly for storing surplus electricity generated through solar energy. Authorities informed the meeting that a PC-I is being prepared for two pilot projects focused on grid-level battery storage.
The meeting was further briefed that the National Coordination and Management Council is monitoring the energy situation on a daily basis, while local oil and gas production continues to improve through ongoing efforts by exploration companies.
Separately, the government is working on measures to promote EV adoption among the public. Under the proposed plan, government employees up to Grade 16 may be offered electric motorcycles on easy instalments, with the prime minister directing that subsidies for low-income groups under the National EV Policy be implemented transparently and without delay.
Officials said the combined focus on strategic reserves and electrification is aimed at reducing reliance on imported fuels, improving energy resilience, and supporting sustainable economic growth.
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