Pakistan’s EV Transition: Policy, Infrastructure & Opportunity | Dr. Naveed Arshad, LUMS Energy Institute
Pakistan's EV boom is already here. Host and energy lawyer Sarah Kazmi sits down with Dr. Naveed, director of the LUMS Energy Institute, to unpack what is actually happening behind Pakistan's electric vehicle transition. From the 2019 national EV policy and the multi-ministry coordination problem that slowed early progress, to the sharp surge in demand after global fuel shocks, this conversation shows why Pakistan's adoption curve looks very different from the US or Europe. You'll discover why 84% of Pakistan's vehicle market makes electrification a completely different challenge, why women and younger riders are becoming a major new EV customer segment, and why swappable batteries may be the key to three-wheelers. Dr. Naveed also breaks down the real bottlenecks holding back scale, including missing motorcycle-equivalent models, charging infrastructure for longer trips, and the need for off-peak EV tariffs.He also shares how LUMS Energy Institute became an unexpected EV powerhouse - with battery testing, vehicle testing, startup spinouts, and a pilot in Multan that grew into expanded funding and three-city deployment. Along the way, he explains where the real business opportunities are emerging: EV software, battery assembly, power electronics, motor technology, wireless charging, and especially electric freight.
Dr. Naveed Arshad is a Director of the LUMS Energy Institute. His research interests include energy, climate informatics, and electric vehicles. Dr. Arshad has published nearly seventy research articles in top international journals and conferences. Additionally, Dr. Arshad has authored many reports and white papers on advocacy and evidence-based policy recommendations. He co-founded multiple start-up companies in big data, energy analytics, and electric vehicles. Dr. Arshad holds an MS and PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
https://lei.lums.edu.pk/ for more information
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Energy Sphere Season 1 is co hosted by Iraj Tariq, Asjadullah Qureshi and Sarah Kazmi. It is supported by the U.S. Mission to Pakistan in partnership with the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN). The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast solely belongs to those of the individuals expressing it, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Mission and USEFP.
