ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday launched production of electric motorcycles in the country and said the government was revising master plans of cities of the country to preserve green areas and provide better civic amenities to people.

“The launch of the electric motorcycle is a futuristic step as the government’s electric vehicle (EV) policy defines a direction for the future. Introduction of electric motorcycles is part of the government’s five-year Pakistan Electric Vehicles Policy 2020-2025, approved last year,” the prime minister said while addressing the launching ceremony of the production of electric motorcycles.

He said the EV policy was part of the larger initiative of making the country clean and green. “EVs, particularly electric motorcycles as they are used more, will have to be introduced in cities to curb pollution,” the prime minister added.

“When you decide to keep your air, water and cities clean, you have to take initiatives like the 10 Billion Tsunami programme,” he said, adding that Pakistan was one of the few countries with minimal tree cover.

PM says master plans of cities being revised; reviews progress on development of Agri Dashboard

The salient features of the EV policy include a phased transition of the automobile industry, as it would be covering two and three wheelers and heavy commercial vehicles providing incentives to manufacturers.

The E-Bike, launched by the prime minister, has been manufactured by a Pakistani company, Jolta Electric, and is considered a major step towards electrifying the country’s automobile industry.

The E-Bike, to be available in different models -- including JE-70, JE-70 L, JE-70 D, JE-100 L, JE-125 L, JE-Scooty and JE-Sports Bike -- is energy efficient, can be charged overnight and has features such as no clutch and gear and low maintenance.

Various models of Jolta E-Bikes have different speed specifications from 10km to 60km per hour and can cover a distance from 60km to 100km after full charge.

Jolta EV, an initiative of AUJ Technologies Private Limited, the EV technology provider, has designed key components of electric vehicle kits for two, three and four wheelers. It has been through five years of product designing, development and manufacturing experience in China.

The prime minister said another step that the government had taken to increase tree cover was the setting up of national parks.

He said it was for the first time that measures Pakistan was taking to improve environment were being acknowledged internationally.

“The world now recognises Pakistan as one of the few countries that are leading the campaign against global warming,” he noted with satisfaction

Mr Khan stressed the need for long-terming planning, terming it crucial for a country’s progress. “Countries that have progressed thought about the future,” he said, giving the example of China.

The prime minister said if policies of a country kept on changing from election to election, the country would have no roadmap for future. “Policies have to be devised for long term so that we leave a roadmap for future generations,” he added.

Master plans for cities

The prime minister said the government was preparing master plans for cities and regretted that tree cover even in Islamabad had reduced significantly over the years due to lack of planning.

“Therefore, we are making master plans for cities, and some of these plans are due to complete in six mon­ths, focusing on water treatment, discharge of waste and installation of waste treatment plants,” he said.

Prime Minister Khan chaired a meeting on the progress of the Agri Dashboard and the Monitoring Dashboard for the agreements signed during his visits to foreign countries.

The meeting was apprised that with real time statistics of demand and consumption, the Agri Dash­board for agricultural commodities would help the government identify and avoid a food crisis in a timely manner.

National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yousuf brie­fed the meeting on the dashboard set up to monitor implementation of the agreements reached with foreign leaders.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh called on Prime Minister Khan and discussed the overall political situation in the province.

In a meeting with Naya Pakistan Housing Development Au­­thority chair­man retd Lt Gen Anwar Ali Haider, the prime minister appreciated the pace of development work that continued despite the pandemic.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2021