KARACHI: Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has delivered its largest shipment of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) to Pakistan, the company said on Saturday, bringing more than 2,000 cars to Karachi at a time when rising fuel prices and government efforts to reduce oil imports are accelerating interest in electric mobility.
The arrival comes just a day after Pakistan raised petrol and diesel prices amid volatility in global oil markets linked to the renewed US-Iran conflict. The government has also shifted from weekly fuel price revisions to daily pricing, highlighting the uncertainty facing motorists dependent on conventional fuels.
The latest BYD shipment, according to the company, reflects growing consumer demand despite the country’s still limited charging infrastructure.
“This milestone reflects the growing confidence of Pakistani consumers in NEVs and the increasing momentum of Pakistan’s transition toward sustainable mobility,” Danish Khaliq, Vice President Sales and Strategy at BYD Pakistan, said in a statement.
“Amid evolving global supply chain challenges and unprecedented demand for BYD vehicles worldwide, we worked closely with our partner to strengthen supply planning and logistics.”
Pakistan is seeking to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles under its New Energy Vehicle Policy 2025-30, which targets NEVs to account for 30% of new vehicle sales by the end of the decade. Officials say the transition could save more than two billion liters of fuel annually and reduce the country’s import bill by about $1 billion each year.
Earlier this month, lawmakers reviewing the government’s plans warned charging infrastructure remained a major bottleneck, saying the target of 3,000 charging stations nationwide by 2030 was insufficient for mass EV adoption.
Yet, the automobile industry sees significant potential for NEV sales in the country.
“Pakistan is an important market in BYD’s global growth journey, and we remain committed to supporting its transition toward cleaner transportation by introducing world-class NEVs and strengthening our presence in the country,” Lei Jian, country head of BYD Pakistan, said.
