Muhammad Luqman

Lahore, the second most populous city of Pakistan, is generally ranked among the top 10 cities with most polluted air. In winters, it sometimes goes to the top of the list of cities worst hit by smog.

According to environmentalists, the primary contributor to air quality degradation in the metropolis is emissions from automobiles, particularly three-wheelers such as auto rickshaws and motorcycle rickshaws. “The gaseous emissions and carbon from automobiles, mainly rickshaws, account for more than 50% of the pollution load,” Syed Naseemur Rehman Shah, former director of the Punjab Environmental Protection Department, told WealthPK.

He noted that gradually replacing fossil-fuel-powered rickshaws with electric three-wheelers could help reduce both air and noise pollution in the city. Currently, around 1.55 million three-wheelers operate on Lahore’s roads, including 95,000 two-stroke and four-stroke auto rickshaws and 60,000 motorcycle rickshaws (also known as Qingqis). While several rickshaw manufacturers have recently introduced electric three-wheelers, the shift away from petrol-powered rickshaws has been slow.

“The sale of electric rickshaws remains sluggish due to their high price compared to traditional ones,” said Mian Muhammad Ali Hameed, executive director of Sazgar Auto Industries, which launched Pakistan’s first electric rickshaw. “The price of an electric rickshaw is around Rs1.2 million, compared to Rs450,000 for a petrol rickshaw,” he told WealthPK. Hameed noted that while some companies, including Foodpanda, have started purchasing electric rickshaws, individual buyers remain few due to the high costs.

“However, over time, like other electric vehicles (EVs), electric rickshaws will become more common on Lahore’s roads,” he added. Currently, an estimated 45,000 two- and three-wheeler EVs are on the roads in Pakistan, making up just 0.16% of the country’s total vehicles. Hameed emphasized that his company has the infrastructure and capacity to produce e-rickshaws on a much larger scale, provided the government offers financial support to buyers.

Rickshaw drivers are keen on switching to e-rickshaws due to their zero emissions, low noise, and minimal maintenance costs. However, the high purchase price remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption. “The government must introduce a comprehensive policy to accelerate the transition from fossil-fuel-powered rickshaws to electric ones,” said Majeed Ghauri, Chairman of the Awami Rickshaw Union, in an interview with WealthPK. He suggested that the government subsidize part of the rickshaw cost while allowing drivers to pay the remainder in installments.

He also highlighted the need for insurance coverage for rickshaw batteries, which are the most expensive component of the vehicle. To promote EV adoption, the Pakistani government introduced a policy last year aiming to transition a third of all new vehicles to electric by 2030. The Punjab government has also launched a scheme to provide electric bikes and e-rickshaws under a self-employment initiative. However, these ambitious targets must be implemented more swiftly if Pakistan is to join the ranks of nations with a high EV adoption rate.

Credit: INP-WealthPk