Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the importance of energy security as a key component of Pakistan’s future planning, asserting that timely conservation measures had prevented an energy crisis. Addressing a meeting in Islamabad focused on energy security, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of transitioning to environmentally friendly electric vehicles and maintaining strategic crude oil reserves.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister outlined ongoing efforts to develop a plan for strategic crude oil reserves tailored to future energy requirements. He advocated for a gradual shift in transportation means to electric vehicles, recommending that future acquisitions for official use include only electric buses and motorcycles. He further urged the rapid establishment of electric vehicle charging stations.

The Prime Minister also called for a strategy to facilitate the acquisition of batteries for storing excess electricity generated from solar energy, encouraging local production of high-quality storage batteries. The meeting was informed about the country’s ample petroleum reserves and stable food security situation. Additionally, it was noted that local production of gas and oil is on the rise, with a PC-I being prepared for two pilot projects on grid-level battery storage. Households generating solar energy are also being encouraged to install battery storage systems.