Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called for immediate petrol deregulation and a strong push for electric vehicles during a press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad with former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan at his side.
Abbasi argued that flawed governance and policy failures have made both petrol and electric vehicles more expensive for ordinary Pakistanis. He urged the government to deregulate petrol and let private companies import and sell fuel so the market can determine prices rather than last-minute adjustments by authorities.
Highlighting the everyday impact, he said a typical motorcyclist spends around PKR 7,000 a month on fuel, of which roughly PKR 3,000 effectively goes to taxes. He questioned why such a levy is extracted from ordinary citizens while similar burdens are not imposed on legislators or large businesses.
Abbasi recalled earlier debates in parliament, including moves in 2018 and efforts in 2022, and warned that selling petrol below purchase price is unsustainable. He said deregulation of petrol would remove the need for the prime minister to announce sudden price changes at midnight and would limit opportunities for oil companies to amass large profits at the public expense.
On electric mobility he urged targeted promotion of electric vehicles, especially electric motorcycles, noting that prices for these models have become more competitive. He estimated that combining petrol deregulation with a focused EV policy could reduce a fiscal burden of about $6 billion on the country.
Abbasi also pointed to a grassroots solar boom that has unfolded without clear government direction, saying nearly 26,000 megawatts of solar capacity have been added and criticizing taxes applied to household solar installations. He warned that cash handouts are not a sustainable solution and can fuel corruption, and he encouraged policies that enable private-sector solutions for energy, including allowing private imports of LNG.
Repeating his call, Abbasi urged the administration to adopt petrol deregulation and to promote electric vehicles and solar adoption through consistent policy measures that relieve households and strengthen the broader economy.
