Pakistan, July 19 -- The Pakistani federal government is targeting students and unemployed individuals in a major scheme to promote the use of electric vehicles, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday, saying the move will save billions of dollars in fuel imports, help protect environment and promote local industry.

The prime minister said this while presiding over a meeting in Islamabad to review promotion of electric vehicles in the country and the government assistance in acquisition of electric bikes, rickshaws and loaders, according to Sharif's office.

The proposed scheme comes amid the cash-strapped South Asian country's efforts to avoid costly oil imports that shrank five percent to $15 billion from July 2024 till May ...