Pakistan could achieve its electric vehicle (EV) adoption target ahead of 2030 as higher fuel prices improve the financial case for switching to electric vehicles, a senior government official said.

The government wants EVs to make up 30 percent of new vehicle sales by 2030 under its existing policy. Haroon Akhtar, the prime minister’s adviser on industries and production, said the recent rise in fuel costs has reduced the time buyers need to recover the higher upfront cost of an EV.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Akhtar said EV buyers could now recover the additional cost within one to one and a half years as petrol prices increase.

He said consumers are increasingly looking at the potential savings from moving away from gasoline powered vehicles.

According to Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd., petrol and diesel prices have increased by 54 percent and 43 percent, respectively, since the Middle East conflict began in February.

The shift could also help reduce pressure from Pakistan’s large petroleum import bill. Petroleum products accounted for nearly a quarter of the country’s total imports, reaching $16.9 billion in the year ended June 2026, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

However, wider EV adoption still faces major challenges, including high vehicle prices and limited charging infrastructure.

Demand is nevertheless increasing. Bloomberg reported that sales of electric motorcycles and scooters have tripled from a year earlier, while electric car sales have doubled. Comprehensive industry wide EV sales figures are not publicly available.

The government is also working on a new auto policy that could be sent to the cabinet within the next two weeks.

Akhtar said the government is considering tax incentives to reduce the price gap between electric and conventional vehicles.

The policy has been under discussion for several months and was delayed by negotiations over tariffs and export requirements. The latest draft is now with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who is expected to incorporate the latest recommendations, according to Akhtar.