Reuters Videos
Wed, April 8, 2026 at 2:01 AM PDT
STORY: Ever since conflict began in the Middle East, Ali Gohar Khan’s electric motorbike shop in Pakistan has been overwhelmed with inquiries.With the nation importing nearly all its oil through the Strait of Hormuz, he says fuel shortage fears took hold despite the government’s assurance on supplies. “There are rumors and uncertainty, we’re seeing many fuel stations closing and people are afraid that they may not get gas in the near future. Prices have already increased so much and the per capita income in Pakistan is, as you know, very low, that is why people are purchasing more electric scooters. Now they think that where there are gas bikes in every house—often two or three bikes per household—having an electric scooter has become a necessity. They truly consider it a necessity now.”Bilquis Fatima, a teacher, said switching to electric would help cut her costs.”Day by day, fuel is getting expensive so EV bikes are easy. If I charge the bike at home, using normal electricity, the bill is the same, so we don’t have to pay extra bills. And if we buy fuel or have a fuel bike, we have to fork out money from our pockets – and fuel is becoming expensive. So, this is a saving.”Industry officials and analysts expect the Middle East crisis and soaring global fuel prices to supercharge an EV rush in the country.EV logistics planning company Orko says that this year EVs have accounted for more than 10% of monthly two-wheeler sales for the first time.The government also launched a program in February to subsidize a fifth of the price, with interest-free loans for the rest. It has already received about 270,000 applications – nearly seven times the first phase target.With many Pakistanis already using solar power at home, the government is tapping into that boom to drive EV growth.The switch would also help lower oil imports and slash emissions in what was the world’s most polluted country in 2025.
