Islamabad, February 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that incumbent government is committed towards pursuing green pathways by adopting and promoting green mobility concept at all levels, where e-vehicle are being encouraged as sustainable and more affordable mode of transport in the country.
“The future now calls for a green mobility’ with, among others, ‘green vehicles’ and for those the fundamental infrastructure to secure an individual and environmentally-friendly mobility freedom and ‘green’ goods transport, he said while addressing a launching ceremony of e-Bike in e-Commerce Space’ event held here on Thursday at a local hotel.
“Because, in the context of sustainable mobility the pertinent infrastructure technology carries an unprecedented role to cope with environmental degradation, contaminated air quality and sustainable mobility,” he maintained.
The PM’s aide appreciated the efforts of the Food panda to induct e-bikes in its food delivery system, which would not only help cut fuel expenses of the food riders but also serve towards environmental protection efforts of the incumbent government being implemented under the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for Clean Green Pakistan.
“I am truly thrilled with the induction of e-bikes in the food delivery system by the country’s largest online food and grocery delivery platform, reflecting its commitment towards protecting the country from environmental degradation, particularly air pollution,” Malik Amin Aslam.
Malik Amin told the participants that another way to cut heat-trapping carbon emissions and to pursue carbon neutrality pathway, such as e-vehicles, is to offset emissions made in one sector by reducing them somewhere else. This can be done through investment in e-vehicle system, renewable energy, energy efficiency or other clean, low-carbon technologies that can be also used in transport system.
Talking to media on the sidelines of the event, Malik Amin Aslam said that climate change ministry has already earmarked Rs.1.5 billion to implement projects and introduce electric vehicles among masses under Green Stimulus initiative. He highlighted the need of pacing up induction of electric vehicles in the country’s ailing transport system to gain dividends of the first-ever electric vehicle policy.
The project aims to help ensure safe, affordable and emissions free transport for the citizens of the capital, the PM’s aide said. He also urged the private sector join government’s efforts to introduce affordable and environmentally-sustainable e-vehicles. He emphasized that fossil fuel-powered vehicles contribute greatly to air pollution, for they emit tons of greenhouse gas, especially second-hand and very old vehicles.
“However, adopting and promoting use of e-vehicles can not only help fight soring air pollution but also reduce spiking burden of imported oil on the country’s foreign exchange reserves,” SAPM said. PM’s aide Malik Amin said that adoption and promotion of e-vehicles are also vital to achieving carbon neutrality for having a balance between emitting climate-altering carbon gases and absorbing them from the atmosphere in carbon sinks in soil, forests and oceans.
Taking off carbon oxide, highly potent climate change-causing gas, from the atmosphere and then storing it is known as carbon sequestration. In order to achieve net zero emissions, all worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will have to be counterbalanced by carbon sequestration, he added.
Malik Amin Aslam, under the PM Imran Khan’s world-acclaimed green vision, the has become the second developing country in the world after India to introduce electric vehicle (EV) policy in the region. Spelling out benefits of adoption of e-vehicles in the country, the PM’s aide said further that there are several opportunities for Pakistan under EV industry as it would help lower import oil bill and save around US$1 billion, whereas 70 percent air pollution would be reduced by means of electricity-run automobiles.
Earlier, addressing the event, acting CEO of the online food and grocery delivery platform Food panda, Muntaqa Parecha said that the initiative of inducing e-bikes in the organisation’s food delivery system reaffirms food panda’s pledge to work towards environmental sustainability.
Food panda has partnered with Jolta Electric to scale e-bikes on its platform and will also explore financing opportunities with different banks to support its riders. While sharing his views, Muntaqa Paracha, Interim CEO at food panda, said, “Launching e-bikes is in line with our core philosophy of embedding technology into our business and aimed at defining a direction for the future.” In December last year, food panda and the Ministry of Climate Change pledged to work together for launching and accelerating efforts to protect the environment. Food panda recognizes that climate change is one of our greatest challenges that requires immediate action. Partnerships like these and other initiatives are small steps in the right direction to mitigate the impact of climate change.
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