In a country where power outages are common and roads are filled with cars that have been running for decades, the idea of electric vehicles feels both exciting and distant. Around the world, electric cars are being praised as the future of transportation, but in Pakistan the reality is much more complicated.

The promise of clean energy and lower running costs is attractive, yet the lack of charging facilities, the high initial cost, and limited access to modern technology make these vehicles out of reach for most people.

Hybrid vehicles, which use both petrol and electric power, seem to offer a more practical middle ground. They do not depend on charging stations and can still improve fuel economy while reducing emissions. Plug-in-hybrids that can be charged at home go a step further, but their prices, usually three to four million rupees higher than regular petrol cars, make them affordable only for a few. For the majority of Pakistanis, petrol cars remain the most realistic option.

This situation reminds us of the country’s earlier experience with compressed natural gas vehicles. The government once encouraged people to........

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