Islamabad: Pakistan is exploring avenues for cooperation with the European Union (EU) in electric vehicle (EV) skills development, technical training, and capacity building as part of its transition towards sustainable mobility, according to a press release from Press Information Department. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, met with an EU delegation to discuss these initiatives, emphasizing the importance of a skilled workforce in supporting Pakistan’s shift to a modern and competitive industrial economy.

During the meeting, Khan highlighted Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of increasing the share of electric vehicles to 30 percent by 2030. He noted that achieving this goal requires not only new vehicles but also a robust industrial ecosystem supported by skilled professionals. The Advisor underscored the need for timely investment in skills development to prepare Pakistani youth for emerging job opportunities in the electric vehicle sector.

Khan also mentioned the government’s upcoming Auto Policy, which will focus on the development of the electric vehicle and automotive sectors, and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Policy aimed at supporting cleaner energy technologies. He directed the Engineering Development Board to engage with the EU delegation to explore practical areas for cooperation.

Secretary of Industries and Production Ihsan Ali Mangi and Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ihsan Afzal stressed the importance of aligning skills development with industry needs and the potential benefits of international collaboration. The EU delegation expressed interest in working with Pakistan on EV skills development, with discussions focusing on institutional coordination and industry engagement to identify collaboration opportunities.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Industries and Production, the Engineering Development Board, and representatives from the European Union delegation.