The Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production proposed on Thursday that electric vehicle (EV) charging units be installed at all fuel stations to encourage eco-friendly transportation.
Committee Chairman Senator Aon Abbas raised concerns about the regulatory framework surrounding new and renewable energy.
“Who is controlling the prices of solar panels? And who is affecting the supply and demand balance?” he asked.
Senator Abbas pointed out that individuals were installing solar panels without adequate regulation.
Officials from the energy ministry informed the committee that the government is promoting solarization in the country. Senator Abbas stressed that the issue of taxes on locally produced solar panels would be brought up in the Senate. He expressed confidence that the government would eliminate taxes on local solar panel production and impose duties on imported panels to support the domestic industry.
The committee also reviewed the Electric Vehicle Policy, with Engineering Development Board (EDB) officials assuring that charging stations would be made widely accessible.
Additionally, the committee was informed that 93 percent of mobile phones used in Pakistan are locally produced, and efforts to localize manufacturing have led to the creation of over 40,000 jobs in the mobile phone sector.
