Pakistan: Islamabad police force acquires 50 electric cars

Pakistani capital Islamabad has acquired 50 new electric cars for its police force. The new electric police car fleet has already entered operations and is being used across the city.

Image: Islamabad Police

At an event held on 8 September, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif handed over the keys to the new electric police cars to Mohsin Naqvi, the Federal Minister for Interior, and Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, the Inspector General of Islamabad Police. Several other senior government officials also attended the ceremony.

Briefing the prime minister and other dignitaries at the ceremony, Rizvi said the 50 electric police cars will save approximately 34 million Pakistani rupees (~€107,000 euros) per month in fuel costs and that these savings will recover the cost of each car in about ten and a half months. The new EV fleet serves Islamabad Police’s newly established Capital Patrol force, which will comprise 200 police personnel.

Islamabad Police expects the inclusion of EVs in its fleet to reduce response time and make field operations even faster and more effective. All 50 newly acquired vehicles are BYD’s Atto 2 sub-compact SUVs. The Chinese automaker offers the Atto 2 in the country in only one configuration, priced at 7.29 million Pakistani rupees (~€22,900 euros).

A front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor produces 130 kW and 290 Nm of torque. It draws energy from a 45.12 kWh LFP battery pack that can be charged from 30 per cent to 80 per cent SoC in 30 minutes. This setup allows the Atto 2 to reach 0 to 100 kph in 7.9 seconds and travel up to 380 km on a single charge, as per NEDC.

Mega Motor Company, BYD’s official partner in Pakistan and an associated company of local power generation company Hub Power Company, is setting up a local assembly plant for the Chinese automaker’s new energy vehicles. Located in Gharo, Sindh, this factory is scheduled to commence operations by the end of 2026. The Atto 2, being BYD’s most affordable model in the country, could be a strong candidate for local assembly from day one.

x.com (PM’s announcement), x.com (video reveal) (links in Urdu)