As the use of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow in Pakistan, charging infrastructure is also expanding across major cities to meet rising demand.
The government has been promoting green energy and encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles through various initiatives, including schemes offering electric bikes and taxis at subsidised rates or on easy instalments. At the same time, rising fuel prices are prompting more people to switch to EVs as a cost-effective alternative.
With the increasing number of electric vehicles on the roads, the need for public charging stations has become more important. In response, EV charging points are being established in major urban centres, including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Islamabad
The federal capital currently offers some of the easiest access to public EV charging stations due to its compact layout and well-distributed network.
Charging points are available in Blue Area, Centaurus Mall, F-6, F-8, I-8, I-9, I-10, G-6 and the Defence Complex, allowing EV owners to recharge their vehicles without travelling long distances.
Lahore
Lahore has developed one of Pakistan’s largest public EV charging networks.
Charging stations are located in DHA, Gulberg, Cantonment, Johar Town, Bedian Road, MM Alam Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Packages Mall and Emporium Mall.
Several charging stations in DHA Phase 6 and Gulberg are powered by solar canopies, enabling them to continue operating during power outages. This provides an added advantage for EV owners who do not have backup charging facilities at home.
Karachi
Despite being Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi has the fewest public EV charging stations among the country’s three major metropolitan centres.
Existing charging facilities are mainly concentrated in Clifton, DHA, Civil Lines, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, PECHS, Quaidabad and Scheme 33, leaving noticeable gaps in charging coverage across other parts of the city.
As Pakistan continues its transition towards cleaner transportation, the expansion of EV charging infrastructure is expected to play a key role in supporting the growing number of electric vehicle users and promoting sustainable mobility nationwide.