ISLAMABAD: Ghulam Hussain was used to zipping through the streets of Lahore with his wife and three young children perched perilously on his motorbike, whenever they visited relatives or ran errands.
But now that Pakistan has launched a plan to move vehicles over to electric power, Hussain is excited about the prospect of no longer spending 4,000 rupees ($24) each month on petrol.
“It would be a substantial saving for me to switch to an electric motorbike,” said Hussain, who works as a driver for a family in the upscale Gulberg district, earning about 20,000 rupees a month.
“Eventually I’d like to buy a small car for the family, as the children are getting older. I would buy an electric car, if they are affordable.”
He will have to wait a while to find out.
After a lengthy delay, Pakistan’s ambitious electric vehicle (EV) policy was approved for implementation this month, but a late-stage change leaves cars out of its first phase.
Critics warn this means it will take longer for Pakistanis to reap the policy’s environmental and financial benefits.
Covering buses and trucks, as well as two- and three-wheel vehicles, including rickshaws and motorcycles, the new policy introduces a raft of incentives to encourage manufacturers to start producing electric vehicles and customers to buy them.
Passed on June 10, the new policy was originally approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan in November, with the goal of cutting air pollution and curbing climate change.
It aims to bring half a million electric motorcycles and rickshaws, along with more than 100,000 electric cars, buses and trucks, into the transportation system over the next five years.
The goal is to have at least 30% of all vehicles running on electricity by 2030.
After pushback from traditional automakers, the first stage of the policy bypasses cars to focus on motorbikes and rickshaws — the most common form of transport in Pakistan’s densely populated urban areas — as well as buses and trucks.
Malik Amin Aslam, climate change adviser to the prime minister, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that incentives for cars would be added to the policy “at a later stage,” without specifying when.
Leaving out cars makes the new policy “like a wedding party arriving with no bridegroom,” said Shaukat Qureshi, general secretary of the Pakistan Electric Vehicles and Parts Manufacturers and Traders Association (PEVPMTA).
“The rest of the world is adopting this technology and it is pollution-free. The sooner it comes, the better it is for everyone,” he said.
Abdul Waheed Khan, director general of the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association, which represents petrol-powered carmakers, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the policy “states the broad parameters to which we agreed.”
“We appreciate the direction and are awaiting further details,” he added.
POORER FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND
Mian Ali Hameed, marketing director at Sazgar Engineering Works Limited, a leading rickshaw manufacturer, said his company was ready to start producing electric rickshaws before the end of 2020.
Hameed confirmed that Sazgar’s e-rickshaws will be more expensive than traditional versions, costing about 400,000 rupees, compared with 250,000 rupees for a petrol-powered ride.
However, customers will soon see savings, as their petrol use drops dramatically and they spend less on maintenance like oil and filter changes, he explained.
“Customers could recover the (purchase) cost in one year, according to our estimates,” he said.
One potential obstacle to the speedy uptake of EVs is a lack of charging infrastructure. To address that, the policy makes it cheaper for authorities and companies to install charging stations in cities and along motorways.
But Qureshi of the PEVPMTA noted that owners of electric motorbikes, e-rickshaws and small electric cars do not need to wait.
“You just plug them in at home, like a fan,” he said.
Qureshi worries that leaving cars out of the policy for now will disadvantage lower-income families, estimating that switching to a small electric car could save up to 25,000 rupees a month in fuel costs.
“For many families in Pakistan, this much savings per month means a change in their lifestyles,” he said.
GOOD FOR HEALTH
Addressing concerns about the cost of electric vehicles, climate adviser Aslam said the policy includes incentives for their owners, such as removing yearly registration fees and a 50% discount on motorway tolls.
In a country where large cities routinely suffer high levels of air pollution, the benefits to Pakistan’s environmental health will also be significant, he added.
Each electric vehicle produces 65% fewer pollutants than traditional petrol-powered engines, he said.
According to the latest World Air Quality Report, Pakistani and Indian cities dominated the most polluted cities in 2019.
Much of that pollution is due to Pakistan’s rapid motorization, environmental experts say.
A World Bank study published in 2014 noted that the number of vehicles on the country’s roads jumped from about 2 million in 1991 to more than 10 million two decades later.
The blue skies Pakistanis witnessed during the coronavirus lockdown showed “the extremely strong nexus between congested vehicle traffic and air pollution, especially in urban centers,” Aslam said.
According to Syed Muhammad Abubakar, an independent environmental researcher based in Lahore, the transport sector produces more than 40% of the air pollution in Punjab province.
There is “no time to lose” in cleaning up the air in Pakistan’s cities, especially in the midst of COVID-19, he said.
Pointing to a recent study by researchers at Harvard University, Abubakar noted that even a small increase in long-term exposure to air pollution particles can lead to an 8% jump in the rate of deaths caused by the respiratory illness.
“Pakistan must learn and take drastic measures to limit the increase in air pollution. Otherwise, the lives of many will be at risk,” he said.
Pakistan launches electric vehicle plan with cars in slow lane
https://arab.news/rq4ev
Pakistan launches electric vehicle plan with cars in slow lane
- It aims to bring half a million electric motorcycles and rickshaws over the next five years
- Each electric vehicle produces 65% fewer pollutants than traditional petrol-powered engines – says official
Pakistan PM extends condolences to Turkey over loss of lives in armament factory blast
- The blast killed 12 people and injured four others in the capsule production facility of the factory in Balikesir province
- In his message, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said they were praying for the bereaved families and swift recovery of the injured
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday extended his condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people over the loss of lives in a blast at an armament factory, which killed 12 people.
The blast occurred in the capsule production facility of the factory located in the province of Balikesir, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu said the explosion collapsed the capsule production building and that the surrounding buildings sustained minor damage.
"Deeply saddened to learn about the accident at the explosive production facility in Balıkesir province, resulting in the loss of 12 precious lives," Sharif said on X.
"While expressing our solidarity with the people of Turkiye, we pray for the bereaved families & swift recovery of the injured."
Pakistan and Turkiye share strong bilateral religious, cultural, trade and defence relations. In May this year, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Islamabad on a two-day official visit.
During the visit, both countries decided to increase bilateral trade volume to $5 billion, amid Pakistan's efforts to boost foreign investments and better manage its $350 billion economy.
History gets second chance at Karachi’s heritage building where freedom stood trial
- Established in 1906, Khaliqdina Hall was a library and community center that become a hub of political activities
- In 1921, the hall witnessed the sedition trial of Muhammad Ali Jauhar, a freedom fighter who opposed British rule
KARACHI: Over a century ago, Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building on Karachi’s M.A. Jinnah Road, became the stage for a pivotal moment in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
Originally established in 1906 as a library and community center, the iconic building served as a hub for political and literary gatherings, hosting leaders, thinkers and activists who shaped the region’s destiny.
On July 9, 1921, the hall witnessed the trial of Muhammad Ali Jauhar, a renowned journalist, activist and leader of the Khilafat Movement, who stood accused of sedition alongside other prominent figures such as his brother Shaukat Ali, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, Maulana Husain Madani, and Sri Shankaracharya.
While not a traditional courtroom, Khaliqdina Hall became a platform for debates that shaped history and a sanctuary for intellectuals seeking knowledge and inspiration since it first opened to the public.
But in recent decades, the hall fell into disuse as Karachi’s cultural and political life waned amid conflict and urban challenges. Now, following a meticulous restoration this year, the 118-year-old building is poised to reclaim its former glory, offering hope for a revival of the city’s lost vibrancy.
“This building is not just heritage but also history,” said Bashir Sadozai, President of the Students Welfare Organization, which occupies a room in the hall. “To many people, the history of this place starts in 1906 with the construction of the building, but it actually started long before, when the British, after occupying the Indian subcontinent, began reforms.”
Sadozai explained that in 1851, the British set up a one-room library named the Native Library in the nearby Ranchore Line area. It soon became overcrowded, leading to the formation of a trust comprising local philanthropists. One such individual, Ghulam Hussain Khaliqdina, donated Rs18,000 out of the total Rs33,000, enabling the construction of the building in 1906.
The restoration, initiated in August and completed on November 15, 2024, addressed decades of neglect.
Saima Zaidi, director of Numaish, the organization tasked with the renovation by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), said the building was structurally sound but in a derelict condition.
She informed electrical work, seepage in the walls, paint and woodwork all required attention.
“Doors, windows and grills were stripped of layers of paint, cleaned, polished and repaired across the building,” she told Arab News. “The library, with its rare collection of books, was in complete disarray, exposed to the elements in broken cupboards and panes.”
Additional touchups were made to the dock where Jauhar stood during his trial in 1921.
“Around 100 years ago, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar stood exactly in this place where he was sentenced to two years imprisonment,” Mehdi Maloof, senior director of the KMC, said.
Jauhar famously declared his desire for martyrdom, urging the court to deliver its verdict, as he had never denied opposing British colonial rule. Less than a decade later, he died in London and was buried in Jerusalem according to his will.
After partition, the hall hosted the All-India Muslim League’s conference, where it was decided to remove “All India” from its name. The country’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also delivered a speech here to civil servants of the newly independent Pakistan.
Asked about the decline in the hall’s relevance to the city’s cultural life in recent years, Zaidi explained that Karachi’s turbulent history— marked by decades of ethnic, militant and sectarian conflict— had also impacted Khaliqdina Hall, as public spaces fell silent amid the violence.
“M.A. Jinnah Road itself witnessed a lot of conflict, violent protests and deadly bomb blasts,” she said. “A whole generation grew up in fear.”
Despite these challenges, she said, the restoration marked a turning point.
“In these politically and economically unstable times, this space offers an opportunity for the younger generation to connect with each other and the city, reclaiming their role in shaping its future,” she continued.
Zaidi also highlighted plans to restore the library with 2,000 books, including 500 rare editions from the 18th and 19th centuries, soon to be accessible to the public.
Designed by renowned architect Moses Somake, the hall features Ionic columns and intricate woodwork that have been carefully preserved.
“It’s a really precious gem of a building,” she said.
For visitors like Mehwish Rafi, the restoration has brought Khaliqdina Hall back to life.
“Somebody who’s an average citizen, when I walk into this place, I feel overwhelmed,” Rafi said. “And that’s the beauty of this.”
Saudi Arabia, UAE top destinations for Pakistanis wanting to relocate abroad — survey
- Ipsos survey says Saudi Arabia (30%), UAE (20%) top list of destinations where Pakistanis wish to relocate
- Most Pakistanis wanting to leave are frustrated by a decline in purchasing power, limited employment opportunities
ISLAMABAD: An end-of-year survey released by market research firm Ipsos has shown that the primary destinations for Pakistanis wanting to leave the country are Saudi Arabia and the UAE, debunking the commonly held belief that young people from the South Asian nation want to migrate to Western countries.
During the year 2015, the highest number of Pakistanis, 946,571, went abroad for the purpose of employment, according to the Pakistani Bureau of Emigration. As of September this year, 525,378 Pakistanis had moved for jobs abroad, while over 800,000 Pakistanis left the country of 220 million to take up jobs in 2022. This was up from a pre-pandemic total of 625,876 in 2019, and 382,439 the year before that.
Most Pakistanis wanting to leave the country are believed to be frustrated by a decline in purchasing power and limited opportunities to improve their standard of living.
“Among those who express a desire to relocate, the primary destinations are economically stable countries in close proximity to Pakistan, with Saudi Arabia (30%) and the UAE (20%) topping the list, nullifying the commonly believed myth of youth’s interest toward Western countries,” the survey report said.
It also said an “acute majority” of young Pakistanis, 74%, desired to stay in Pakistan, while a privileged
youth segment — which comprised people in the ages of 18-24 age in upper socio-economic classes living in the federal capital of Islamabad — had a greater inclination toward leaving Pakistan.
“The trend reveals that Pakistani youth (74%) are committed to their country and are NOT inclined to leave,” the Ipsos survey data showed.
“A couple of years back, Oct 2022 saw a 32% consider leaving, this number plummeted to 23% by February 2024 amidst pre-election hope indicating stability toward the end of 2024.”
Amid a prolonged economic crisis in recent years, Pakistani officials have expressed increasing worries about the snowballing brain drain that could hamper the country’s eventual recovery.
“The huge exodus of educated youth is of great concern,” Ahsan Iqbal, minister for planning, development and special initiatives, told reporters earlier this year.
“It is our responsibility to provide them an enabling environment to stem the emigration.”
The government has launched several development initiatives which it hopes will help retain talent, he added.
They include establishing 200,000 paid internships for young engineers, a 10-billion-rupee ($37.35 million) innovation fund and a 40-billion-rupee program to develop 20 poor districts.
UK’s Jeremy Corbyn says ‘deeply concerned’ about detention of Pakistan’s Imran Khan
- Several world leaders have called for Khan’s release in recent weeks, including Trump nominees Richard Grenell, Matt Gaetz
- Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and faces dozens of cases since he was removed as prime minister in 2022
ISLAMABAD: British politician Jeremy Corbyn, who has been a member of parliament for Islington North since 1983, said this week he was “deeply concerned” about the continued detention of Pakistan’s former premier Imran Khan, calling for the release of all political prisoners around the world.
Several world leaders have called for Khan’s release in recent weeks, including Richard Grenell, US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for presidential envoy on special missions, and former Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who Trump wants to serve as the nation’s top lawman. In October, over 60 Democratic lawmakers from the US House of Representatives wrote to President Joe Biden, urging him to use Washington’s leverage with Pakistan to secure the release of Khan.
“I remain deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of Imran Khan,” Corbyn wrote on X on Monday.
“His disgraceful treatment is an affront to the democratic rights of the people of Pakistan. We must continue to speak up for the release of all political prisoners everywhere.”
Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and has faced dozens of cases since he was removed as prime minister in 2022 after which he launched a protest movement against a coalition of his rivals led by current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Khan says cases against him, which disqualified him from contesting the 2024 elections, are politically motivated. He had a fallout with Pakistan’s military that he blames for his ouster. The military denies political interference. Pakistan’s government denies being unfair in the treatment of Khan or his supporters.
Candidates whom Khan backed secured the highest number of seats in the elections. However, his rivals formed a coalition government. A UN human rights working group has said Khan’s detention violates international law.
Pakistan, UN agree to engage religious scholars, schools in combatting AIDS spread
- UN country director for AIDS urges Pakistani scholars to spread awareness about AIDS
- Pakistan’s National AIDS Control Program has registered 72,515 HIV cases as of September
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Nations have agreed to strengthen cooperation to prevent Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) from spreading, state-run media reported on Tuesday, with both sides also exploring the possibility of employing religious scholars to raise awareness about the disease.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks and destroys infection-fighting CD4 cells (CD4 T lymphocytes) of the immune system, while AIDS is the most advanced stage of the disease. People with HIV who are not on medication and lack consistent control of the virus can transmit it through sexual intercourse, sharing needles, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. However, if HIV is properly controlled, the risk of transmission is nearly zero.
Pakistan is the second largest country in South Asia, only behind India and Nepal, in terms of the HIV epidemic, according to the National Institute of Health. Despite many efforts, the HIV infection rate has increased significantly over the past few years in the country.
UN country director for AIDS, Trouble Chikoko, met with the Secretary of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman in Islamabad to discuss the various ongoing programs to curb the disease.
“Pakistan and the UN have agreed to enhance cooperation to curb the spread of AIDS,” Radio Pakistan said. “Chikoko said scholars and religious schools can play a positive role in raising awareness about AIDS prevention among the public.”
During the meeting, Rehman stressed the need for cooperation with relevant UN agencies and other partners to prevent AIDS, polio and other diseases from spreading across the country.
Pakistan’s National AIDS Control Program, established in 1986-87 aims to prevent and control the disease. It has registered 72,515 HIV cases as of September 2024, with 49,939 individuals currently on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in 94 centers across the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since the start of the epidemic, 88.4 million people have been infected with HIV, and approximately 42.3 million have died from AIDS-related causes. By the end of 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally.
Around 0.6 percent of adults aged 15–49 are living with HIV, although the impact of the epidemic varies significantly across countries and regions.
