Government plans phased switch of official fleets to electric vehicles

The government plans to replace official vehicles used by federal and provincial departments with electric and other low-emission vehicles in stages, under a proposed Green Government Fleet Project, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Tuesday, citing official documents.

The stated aims are to cut fossil-fuel consumption in the public sector, reduce emissions from official transport and limit the government's exposure to swings in fuel prices. The report described the project as an attempt to build a model for decarbonising public-sector transport that can be scaled up.

The documents set out no cost estimate, procurement schedule or approval date, and do not name the ministry sponsoring the proposal.

Under the framework described by APP, the first step is a full inventory of government vehicle fleets, recording vehicle types, ages, mileage, fuel consumption and emissions to establish a baseline. That assessment would identify which vehicles can be converted to electric or other low-emission alternatives, and which departments would move first.

Procurement would be guided by green purchasing standards and lifecycle cost assessments, so that replacement decisions are made on total running costs rather than purchase price alone. Charging infrastructure would be installed at government offices, depots and other priority sites, and a digital monitoring system would track vehicle use, energy and fuel consumption, maintenance needs and changes in greenhouse gas emissions.

Fleet managers, drivers and maintenance staff would receive specialised training.

The institutional arrangements divide the work. Federal ministries and divisions would set policy direction, pick priority departments and vehicles, and coordinate implementation. Government agencies would handle vehicle deployment, operational data and fleet management, while procurement bodies would draw up green specifications and replacement plans. Power-sector institutions and electricity distribution companies would support charging connections and assess electricity demand. Vehicle manufacturers and charging-infrastructure suppliers would provide equipment, technical assistance and maintenance, and climate institutions would check the project against national mitigation objectives and monitor its environmental benefits.

Performance would be judged on reductions in fuel consumption, operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.