From electric mobility and battery manufacturing to software, charging infrastructure and research, Episode 4 of The Energy Sphere explores how Pakistan’s growing EV market is creating new opportunities for businesses, investors and technology partnerships.
Pakistan’s electric vehicle sector is moving from policy development toward growing commercial activity. New manufacturers are entering the market, consumer interest is expanding, and opportunities are emerging across vehicle manufacturing, batteries, charging infrastructure, software, components and mobility services.
These developments are at the center of Episode 4 of The Energy Sphere, a podcast initiative implemented by IVLP 2025 alumna Barrister Sarah Kazmi under the PUAN Grants Program, with support from the U.S. Mission to Pakistan through the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN).
In the episode, Barrister Sarah Kazmi speaks with Dr. Naveed Arshad, Director of the LUMS Energy Institute, about Pakistan’s electric mobility landscape, the evolution of EV policy, infrastructure requirements, investment opportunities and technologies that could shape the sector in the years ahead. Their conversation also examines opportunities for U.S.–Pakistan commercial and technology partnerships, particularly in software, batteries, power electronics and research.
From EV Policy to a Growing Market
Dr. Arshad traced Pakistan’s EV journey to the development of the country’s national EV policy in 2019. He explained that the policy helped establish supply-side incentives and encouraged new companies and investment to enter the market.
More recently, economic considerations and changing market conditions have contributed to greater consumer interest in electric mobility.
Pakistan’s EV transition is also different from markets such as the United States and Europe because of the composition of its vehicle fleet. Dr. Arshad noted that two- and three-wheelers account for the majority of vehicles in Pakistan, making motorcycles, scooters and commercial three-wheelers particularly important to the country’s electric mobility market.
These differences also mean that technologies and business models developed for international markets need to be adapted to Pakistan’s requirements. Vehicle design, affordability, charging infrastructure and financing models all need to respond to local usage patterns and commercial conditions.
For businesses and technology companies, this creates an opportunity to develop products and services specifically suited to the Pakistani market.
Different Vehicles, Different Business Opportunities
One of the central messages of Episode 4 is that electric mobility represents multiple potential markets rather than a single commercial opportunity.
Two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, buses and freight vehicles each require different technologies, infrastructure and business models.
For electric two-wheelers, charging can be relatively straightforward because many models can use conventional electrical connections. Dr. Arshad also identified an opportunity for manufacturers to develop models better suited to the practical requirements of Pakistani consumers and commercial users.
Three-wheelers present another potential market. Because many operate commercially, battery-swapping systems could offer a business model that reduces charging downtime and supports more intensive vehicle use.
For passenger vehicles, charging infrastructure becomes increasingly important, particularly for intercity travel. Dr. Arshad noted that licenses have already been issued for additional charging facilities and expects the network to continue developing.
Buses and freight transport could provide longer-term opportunities, creating demand for specialized vehicle technologies, charging systems, fleet-management solutions and financing.
Investment Across the EV Value Chain
The expansion of electric mobility is also creating opportunities well beyond vehicle sales.
Dr. Arshad said the Ministry of Industries had issued around 70 manufacturing licenses across electric two-, three- and four-wheelers at the time of the conversation, which he cited as an indication of growing private-sector interest.
Some companies are assembling vehicles using imported components, while others are developing products tailored specifically to Pakistan’s operating conditions.
Vehicle manufacturing, however, represents only one part of the emerging market.
Dr. Arshad identified potential opportunities across charging infrastructure, mobility services, fleet-management software, in-vehicle software, battery assembly and manufacturing, motors, electronics and power electronics.
He also pointed to opportunities for existing Pakistani industries to adapt their manufacturing capabilities to serve the growing EV value chain.
Taken together, these activities could expand electric mobility from a vehicle market into a broader ecosystem connecting manufacturing, technology, software, infrastructure and investment.
Turning Research into Commercial Opportunity
The episode also examines how research institutions can support the development of this market.
Established in 2018, the LUMS Energy Institute works across research, policy, industry services and technology development. Dr. Arshad said the institute has undertaken projects worth more than PKR 5 billion over the past eight years and has built a team of more than 100 full-time employees.
Research at the institute has also contributed to new ventures, including startups working in battery manufacturing, electric three-wheel mobility, motor drives and related technologies.
Dr. Arshad discussed an electric mobility R&D center established at LUMS with USAID support in 2023–24. The center expanded local capabilities for battery, component and vehicle testing and now provides technical services to industry.
He also discussed an early pilot involving swappable-battery three-wheelers in Multan. According to Dr. Arshad, work associated with the initiative helped demonstrate the model and contributed to a subsequent larger initiative designed to expand it to Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad with participation from financial institutions.
The experience demonstrates how technical research and early-stage testing can help validate new technologies and business models before they move toward larger-scale commercial deployment.
Creating Commercially Scalable Models
Building on the previous Energy Sphere episode’s discussion of U.S.–Pakistan commercial engagement, Sarah asked how early-stage energy and technology initiatives can develop into commercially viable ventures.
Dr. Arshad highlighted how early-stage technical support can help demonstrate technologies and business models, creating a foundation for startups, private investment and locally financed expansion.
He emphasized the importance of developing pathways toward commercial viability and scalability, particularly as new technologies move from research and demonstration into the market.
This approach can help connect technical innovation with entrepreneurship and investment, allowing promising ideas to develop into businesses capable of operating and expanding over the longer term.
Opportunities for U.S.–Pakistan Technology Partnerships
The conversation identified several areas where Pakistani and U.S. companies and technical institutions could potentially develop commercial and technology partnerships.
One of the most immediate is software.
Pakistan has an established technology-services industry, while electric vehicles increasingly depend on software for fleet management, charging, vehicle operations and other services. Dr. Arshad identified software as an accessible area for expanding commercial partnerships and connecting Pakistani technical talent with international companies.
Other potential areas include next-generation batteries, motor technologies, power electronics and wireless charging.
Successful partnerships, however, need to reflect the requirements of the market in which a technology will operate. Pakistan and the United States have different vehicle mixes, consumer requirements, infrastructure and commercial conditions.
This creates an opportunity to combine U.S. technology and technical expertise with Pakistani engineering talent, market knowledge and locally appropriate business models.
Pakistan’s Technology Talent as an Export Opportunity
The potential for commercial partnerships also extends beyond products developed for Pakistan.
Sarah and Dr. Arshad discussed opportunities for Pakistani technology professionals and companies to provide services to EV businesses operating internationally.
Dr. Arshad noted that Pakistani companies already provide software services to businesses abroad and suggested that stronger connections between Pakistani technical talent and international EV companies could expand these opportunities.
This could enable Pakistan to participate in the growing EV economy through software, engineering and specialized technology services, alongside domestic manufacturing and vehicle adoption.
For U.S.–Pakistan trade and investment relations, this represents another potential avenue for business-to-business engagement built around technical expertise and digital services.
Electric Freight as an Emerging Opportunity
Looking beyond passenger mobility, Dr. Arshad identified electric freight as another area with significant longer-term commercial potential.
Freight transport presents different technical and business requirements from passenger vehicles, creating opportunities for companies working in vehicle technology, batteries, charging systems, fleet operations and financing.
As the broader EV market develops, freight could become another important area for investment and technology deployment in Pakistan.
For businesses looking ahead to the next stage of electric mobility, this creates an opportunity to begin developing technologies and commercial models for a segment that is still at an early stage.
Connecting EV Growth with Power-Sector Technology
The conversation also examined what growing EV adoption could mean for Pakistan’s electricity system.
Dr. Arshad highlighted time-based tariffs, smart metering and managed charging as technologies and commercial tools that could help manage when electric vehicles draw electricity from the grid.
This approach creates an important connection between electric mobility and the wider power sector. As EV adoption grows, there could be increasing demand for technologies that help manage charging efficiently and integrate new electricity demand into existing systems.
Over the longer term, continued investment in distribution infrastructure can also support changing electricity requirements across multiple sectors.
For technology companies and investors, this creates additional opportunities in smart metering, charging technologies, grid-management software and distribution-system modernization.
Connecting Pakistani and U.S. Research Expertise
Episode 4 also highlights existing connections between the LUMS Energy Institute and U.S. academic institutions.
Dr. Arshad discussed experts from Stanford University, the University of Maryland and Cornell University who have served on the institute’s board and provided expertise in areas including batteries, power electronics and wireless charging. He also described engagement with researchers at other U.S. universities.
Sarah asked whether such connections could develop further through joint research programs in which technologies are developed collaboratively and tested under Pakistani operating conditions.
Dr. Arshad expressed interest in expanding these technical connections and noted that Pakistan’s experience with large-scale deployment of emerging energy technologies can also generate useful technical knowledge.
Such partnerships could connect research and technical expertise with technology development and eventual commercial applications, while creating additional opportunities for engagement between Pakistani and U.S. institutions and businesses.
Looking Ahead at Pakistan’s EV Market
Dr. Arshad expects electric mobility to continue expanding in Pakistan, particularly across two- and three-wheelers and passenger vehicles.
He pointed to industry figures indicating substantial recent growth in EV sales and expects the economic case for electric mobility to play an increasingly important role in consumer decisions.
Different segments are likely to develop at different speeds. Two- and three-wheelers and passenger vehicles could progress more rapidly, while long-distance buses, freight vehicles and tractors will require different technical and commercial solutions.
For businesses and investors, this means Pakistan’s EV transition is likely to generate multiple commercial opportunities along different timelines.
Vehicle manufacturing, batteries, charging infrastructure, software, components, mobility services, power-sector technologies, financing and electric freight could each create new areas for entrepreneurship and investment as the market develops.
From U.S. Exchange Experience to Commercial Conversations
The Energy Sphere grew from an idea developed during the hosts’ participation in the 2025 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Integrated Energy Planning for the Power and Petroleum Sectors in Pakistan.
Through the PUAN Grants Program, Barrister Sarah Kazmi and her team have developed that idea into a platform for conversations with policymakers, regulators, industry leaders and energy professionals about developments and opportunities across Pakistan’s energy sector.
Episode 4 takes the conversation into a rapidly developing market where technology, investment, manufacturing, research and entrepreneurship intersect.
The discussion with Dr. Naveed Arshad demonstrates that the commercial potential of electric mobility extends well beyond vehicles. Battery manufacturing, charging infrastructure, software, power electronics, technical services and electric freight all provide potential entry points for businesses and investors.
For U.S.–Pakistan trade and investment relations, areas including software, advanced batteries, power electronics, research and technology development could provide practical avenues for commercially driven partnerships tailored to Pakistan’s market requirements.
As electric mobility continues to develop, the opportunity will increasingly be about building the technologies, businesses, infrastructure and investment models needed to serve an expanding market.
The Energy Sphere is implemented by IVLP 2025 alumna Barrister Sarah Kazmi under the PUAN Grants Program, with support from the U.S. Mission to Pakistan through the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN).
