via ‘DAWN’: ISLAMABAD: Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has stressed the importance of transitioning to electric vehicles to ensure a clean environment and support sustainable economic growth.

He said that a locally manufactured made-in-Pakistan vehicle under a Pakistani brand, as well as economical electric bikes, may be introduced to promote affordable mobility and strengthen domestic manufacturing.

The acting president reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the engineering sector as a key driver of economic growth and industrial development. He expressed these views in a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Engineering Development Board (EDB), Hamad Ali Mansoor, at the presidency.

The EDB head briefed Mr Gilani on the role and mandate of the Engineering Development Board, an apex body under the Ministry of Industries and Production, established in 1995 to strengthen Pakistan’s engineering sector.

He outlined EDB’s key initiatives to promote industrial growth, enhance exports, support research and development, improve technical skills and align the sector with international standards.

The CEO also apprised the acting president of ongoing policy measures, including long-term strategic planning, tariff rationalisation, industrial development frameworks, automobile and electric vehicle policies, as well as efforts to foster innovation, technology adoption and human resource development in the engineering industry.

Mr Gilani appreciated the proactive role of the Engineering Development Board in advancing Pakistan’s engineering sector.