Key Takeaways
- The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production took notice of the double duty levied on electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
- Committee directed officials from the Ministry of Finance, Commerce, and Federal Board of Revenue to review the duty structure.
- Committee also directed the Ministry to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the posting of ChAkram, Director PSM, to key positions.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production has taken notice of the double duty being levied on electric vehicle (EV) chargers, stating that this step would have serious negative implications for the nation’s green energy goals.
The committee, chaired by MNA Syed Hafeezuddin, observed that taxing local EV infrastructure directly contradicts national efforts to promote green energy and the Prime Minister’s vision to encourage EV industry growth.
To address this issue, the committee directed officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Federal Board of Revenue to appear before its next meeting to review the duty structure and align it with national EV promotion policies.
The committee also took action on administrative lapses, issuing strict directives regarding the posting of ChAkram, Director PSM, to crucial positions at Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Karachi.
Expressing deep concern over the severe load-shedding in Karachi, the committee directed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of K-Electric to appear before the committee in its next meeting to address the grave concerns raised by members and outline steps to ensure uninterrupted industrial power supply.
The committee expressed strong reservations over the continuous non-attendance of the Advisor and the Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Production in the meeting, noting that such absences severely undermine parliamentary oversight over vital economic matters.
The committee directed them to ensure their presence at the next meeting, and failure to comply will result in the initiation of a privilege motion.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Shahid Usman, Sajid Mehdi, Kiran Imran Dar, Romina Khurshid Alam, Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Naz Baloch, Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, and the Special Secretary, M/o Industries & Production, besides other senior officials of the ministry and its attached departments.
