Govt orders stricter checks as EV makers found using substandard batteries

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to put in place a stricter testing regime for batteries used in electric vehicles after the National Coordination and Management Council (NCMC) raised concerns that some manufacturers in Pakistan were using low-grade and uncertified battery systems.

According to the proceedings of a recent meeting of the executive committee of the NCMC, the council expressed serious concern over battery quality and asked relevant departments to create a new system for safety and quality inspections of batteries installed in electric vehicles. The meeting was co-chaired by the federal minister for economic affairs and the national coordinator of the NCMC, and was attended by committee members, stakeholders and representatives of the Special Investment Facilitation Council Secretariat.

The issue comes at a time when demand and sales of electric vehicles are rising in Pakistan following the US-Israel-Iran war and the resulting sharp increase in oil prices. Electric vehicles are also seen as important for the country’s clean mobility goals and broader environmental commitments.

Testing mechanism ordered

During the meeting, the NCMC observed that some EV manufacturers were not fully complying with the prescribed quality and safety standards, especially in relation to batteries. The council noted that the use of substandard or uncertified batteries could create risks for consumer safety, affect vehicle performance and undermine confidence in the wider EV ecosystem.

The NCMC directed the Engineering Development Board, working with the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and other stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive inspection, testing and verification framework to ensure adherence to required quality, safety and performance benchmarks. The proposed mechanism may include certification conditions, routine inspections and compliance monitoring for manufacturers and importers. The council also said strict enforcement action could be taken against entities found to be violating the standards.

The Ministry of Industries and Production, the Engineering Development Board and Neeca were instructed to begin work immediately on establishing a testing mechanism aligned with international standards for electric vehicles.

Oil marketing companies under scrutiny

The same NCMC meeting also reviewed concerns related to oil marketing companies, with officials highlighting that some firms had not complied with directives issued by regulators and had challenged those orders in court. The matter was discussed against the backdrop of efforts by the government and the regulator to maintain fuel supplies during the ongoing regional crisis linked to the Middle East war, while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

As per Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority regulations, oil marketing companies are required to follow the regulator’s directions and meet prescribed regulatory obligations. During the meeting, Ogra told participants that several companies had not met their allocated PRM quotas, creating pressure on the national fuel supply chain and broader energy security framework.

Ogra further informed the meeting that although show-cause notices had been issued to non-compliant entities, such actions were often challenged in the courts, resulting in delays and weakening enforcement. In response, the NCMC stressed the need for corrective steps and for closing loopholes in the existing rules and regulations.

It was decided that Ogra, in coordination with relevant stakeholders and with the active involvement of the NCMC, would form a committee to review the current regulatory framework and propose amendments aimed at improving enforceability and addressing existing gaps. Ogra has been asked to formally notify the committee and submit a progress report.

The meeting also directed Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd to reassess gas availability for compressed natural gas stations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after determining the remaining volumes left after consumption by power plants.