ISLAMABAD: The United States has pledged ongoing support for Pakistan’s fight against cross-border infiltration and militancy in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, with a $250,000 program to boost Frontier Corps’ nighttime capabilities and $350,000 in safety equipment for counterterrorism efforts, a US diplomatic mission statement confirmed on Wednesday.
Pakistan has seen a surge in militancy, particularly in the KP region bordering Afghanistan, after the Afghan Taliban got back into power in August 2021. The violence further escalated after a fragile truce between the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an ally of the Afghan Taliban, and Islamabad collapsed in November last year.
Officials in Islamabad have consistently expressed concern over the militant network using Afghan soil to launch attacks in their country, citing safe havens in the neighboring state. The administration in Kabul, however, denies these claims.
“US Deputy Chief of Mission, Andrew Schofer, visited Peshawar on September 25-26 to reaffirm US commitment to border security and continued support for Pakistan in its fight against cross-border infiltration and militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the statement said.
“During the visit, Schofer visited the Inspector General of Frontier Corps at the historic Fort Balahisar where he announced a new $250,000 program to enhance the Frontier Corps’ nighttime operational capabilities.”
The statement added that the US diplomat also held a meeting with Peshawar’s Inspector General of Police, Akhtar Hayat, and delivered $350,000 worth of safety and security equipment to enhance the safety and effectiveness of police forces conducting perilous counter-terrorism operations.
Earlier this year, the US said it was ready to “assist” Pakistan broadly against terrorism challenges while also acknowledging that the country had taken some important steps to counter militant groups in line with the completion of its Financial Action Task Force action plans.
At the same time, however, the US reiterated the importance of Pakistan continuing to take steps to permanently disband all militant groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and their various front organizations, assuring that it would raise this issue regularly with Pakistani officials and work together to counter mutual terrorist threats.
US commits $250,000 worth of aid, additional equipment for counterterrorism efforts in Pakistan’s northwest
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US commits $250,000 worth of aid, additional equipment for counterterrorism efforts in Pakistan’s northwest
- US announces new $250,000 program to enhance Frontier Corps’ nighttime operational capabilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- It also provided $350,000 in security equipment for safer and more effective counter-terrorism operations in province
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.
