ISLAMABAD: Starting Saturday, anybody over 30 years old in Pakistan can walk into a vaccination center and get their jab, planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command Operation Center (NCOC) said in a tweet on Friday.
Pakistan, a country of 220 million people, has so far secured over 18 million doses of various vaccines with the help of China and the WHO, with millions more in the pipeline according to officials. The country has also successfully started local production of the Chinese single-shot vaccine, CanSino.
“In the NCOC meeting today it was decided to open up walk in vaccination for 30 plus from tomorrow. So if you are 30 or older and registered please go to any vaccination center and get vaccinated,” Umar tweeted.
On Thursday, the NCOC opened vaccination registrations for all people over 18 years of age, which brings almost 100 percent of the country’s eligible population into the fold of the inoculation drive.
Pakistan has been battling a third wave of the virus, with the national positivity rate dropping under 5 percent for the first time in nearly three months. The country reported 67 deaths from COVID-19 over the last 24 hours.
Starting tomorrow, vaccine walk-ins welcome if you’re over 30 in Pakistan
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Starting tomorrow, vaccine walk-ins welcome if you’re over 30 in Pakistan
- Pakistan’s planning minister tweeted that people over 30 could walk into any vaccination center and get their jab
- Over 18 million doses of vaccines have been secured so far by the country
Pakistan plans 3,000 EV charging stations as green mobility push gathers pace
- Roadmap unveiled by energy efficiency regulator and a private conglomerate amid early-stage EV rollout
- New EV Policy and related plans aim to install 3,000 EV stations by 2030, including 240 stations in current fiscal year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s energy efficiency regulator and a private conglomerate have unveiled an approved roadmap to establish 3,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Tuesday.
The announcement comes as Pakistan looks to build out basic EV charging infrastructure, which remains limited and unevenly distributed, largely concentrated in major cities. Despite policy commitments to promote electric mobility as part of climate and energy-efficiency goals, the absence of a nationwide charging network has slowed broader EV adoption.
Pakistan’s EV ecosystem is still at a formative stage, with progress constrained by regulatory approvals, grid connectivity issues and coordination challenges among utilities, regulators and fuel retailers. Expanding charging infrastructure is widely seen as a prerequisite for scaling electric transport for both private and commercial use.
According to APP, the roadmap was presented during a meeting between Malik Group Chief Executive Officer Malik Khuda Baksh and National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Managing Director and Additional Secretary Humayon Khan.
“Baksh ... in a meeting with Khan, unveiled the approved roadmap for establishing 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations across Pakistan,” APP reported. “Khan reaffirmed the authority’s full institutional backing and pledged to expand the initiative to 6,000 EV charging stations nationwide.”
The discussion reviewed hurdles delaying the rollout, including EV charger imports, customs duties, regulatory documentation and inter-agency coordination.
APP said Khan welcomed the proposal and sought recommendations for “internationally compliant EV charger brands,” while asking for a detailed “issue-and-solutions report within three days” to facilitate timely implementation of the national green mobility initiative.
Despite the issuance of 13 licenses by NEECA and the arrival of five EV charging units at designated sites, progress has been slowed by procedural bottlenecks, officials said. These include delays in electricity connections, prolonged installation of separate meters and pending no-objection certificates from power distribution companies and oil marketing firms, which continue to stall operational readiness.
Pakistan’s electric vehicle ecosystem is still in its early stages, with charging infrastructure far behind levels seen in more advanced markets. The government’s New Energy Vehicle Policy and related plans aim to install 3,000 EV charging stations by 2030, including 240 stations planned in the current fiscal year, but actual deployment remains limited and uneven, mostly clustered in major cities and along key urban corridors.
Despite regulatory backing, including the 2024 Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure and Battery Swapping Stations framework, progress has been slow. Many proposed stations have yet to become operational due to delays in grid connections and approvals, and public maps of nationwide charging coverage are not yet available.
Private players are beginning to install more chargers, and there are over 20 public EV charging points reported in urban centers, offering both slower AC chargers and faster DC options. However, such infrastructure is still sparse compared with the growing number of electric vehicles and the government’s long-term targets.
