ISLAMABAD, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that his country has substantially reduced the power tariff for electric vehicles (EVs) as a propitious step for boosting the emission-less and eco-friendly vehicles in the country.

"EVs are the right step to address air pollution that needs to be scaled up to contain climate change as it will help reduce air pollution, the massive import bill of fuels and preserve the pristine environment," the prime minister said while chairing a meeting on electric vehicles on Wednesday.

Talking about the commercial aspects of EVs, Sharif said that the government is working towards the implementation of an electric vehicle policy to facilitate the EV manufacturers in rolling out subsidized charge-based automobiles in the country, adding that the new tax reduction under the EV policy is expected to lower travel costs by up to three times compared to petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.

"It will encourage investors and industry partners to tap more investments into the EVs sector ... as the country is facing air pollution and climate change which is also a serious concern for the world, promotion of EVs is crucial," he said.

He said that regulations for setting up EV charging stations and battery replacement points have been simplified to encourage investment, adding that timely issuance of licenses for charging stations, safety measures and annual inspections would be ensured to create a competitive market environment to attract direct investments. Enditem

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