Pakistan is moving to establish dedicated standards for lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles as the administration works to support local battery manufacturing and improve safety in the rapidly expanding EV market.
The Ministry of Industries has directed the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority to begin developing standards for lithium ion vehicle batteries. The move is being pursued alongside work on the Next Generation Energy Storage Policy 2026 to 2033. It is expected to provide a broader framework for energy storage and battery related industries, according to Dawn.
The proposed standards are expected to address a major gap in Pakistan’s EV ecosystem. While standards already exist for certain consumer lithium batteries, EV battery packs require significantly more demanding safety and performance requirements because they operate at higher voltages and capacities.
The standards will cover battery cell safety and abuse testing, including extreme stress validation, mechanical crushing, overcharging and thermal abuse. The proposed framework would require cells to withstand these tests without catching fire, according to the details reported by Dawn.
Battery Management Systems are another major area targeted by the proposed standards. The framework is expected to address smart BMS systems capable of responding rapidly to overvoltage and undervoltage conditions. It can cause battery cells to swell and potentially create safety risks.
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The proposed requirements would also cover thermal defect logging and fire containment. Battery packs would need mechanisms to limit heat transfer between cell modules during a single cell failure, including the use of fire resistant materials such as aerogel or fire retardant epoxy sheets.
The government is additionally looking at conditions specific to Pakistan. Proposed requirements include road durability testing, with battery packs expected to withstand a one meter drop onto bare concrete without structural cracks, leaks or internal damage. Standards would also address dust protection, weatherproofing and resistance to water exposure, including conditions associated with flooding and monsoon weather.
The push comes as Pakistan works to expand electric vehicle adoption under its New Energy Vehicle Policy 2025 to 2030. While the Engineering Development Board is responsible for helping implement the policy and supporting local EV manufacturing, the policy targets electric vehicles accounting for 30 percent of new vehicle sales by 2030.
The move could also backing the development of a domestic EV battery industry. While Pakistani EV assemblers have expressed interest in working with the government on local lithium ion battery assembly and cell manufacturing, the Engineering Development Board already identifies local assembly of electric vehicles and battery manufacturing among its areas of responsibility.
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