By S.M. Inam
ISLAMABAD: A meeting on Pakistan’s lithium-ion battery policy was convened under the chairmanship of Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan, with a focus on promoting local manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports.
The session, attended by Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, brought together senior officials including Secretary of Industries Saif Anjum and CEO of the Engineering Development Board Hammad Mansoor to review the country’s prospects in domestic battery production and assembly.
Participants discussed the current state of the industry, noting that while lithium-ion batteries are widely used, Pakistan largely relies on imported raw materials, with local firms limited to assembly. Khan emphasized that a dedicated policy framework was being formulated in line with the Prime Minister’s directives, aimed at supporting homegrown manufacturing, enhancing energy efficiency, and boosting industrial output.
Kayani highlighted the potential for modern production techniques to strengthen Pakistan’s technological capabilities and urged that the policy include clear incentives for domestic production. The Ministry of Commerce provided data showing that raw materials for lithium-ion batteries are currently exempt from import duties, whereas fully assembled batteries attract a 12 percent tax.
During the meeting, three working groups were formed to provide detailed recommendations for the policy. Khan directed the groups to submit their reports within two weeks, ensuring input from industry stakeholders, experts, and regulatory bodies would be incorporated into the final framework.
Officials described the initiative as a major step toward developing a self-reliant battery industry, strengthening Pakistan’s energy sector, and supporting the broader industrial ecosystem.
