StarCharge and McDonald's Pakistan have signed an agreement to bring electric vehicle charging to selected McDonald's restaurants in Pakistan, with drive through sites named as the focus. The deal was signed in Islamabad on Monday 19 October 2026 at a ceremony attended by Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, who said the government had invited StarCharge to set up charging stations in the country.
It is a promising step for EV owners who worry about where to charge outside the home. It is also an early stage agreement, so it is worth being clear about what has been decided and what has not.
What was signed
The two companies describe it as a cooperation agreement, and it was also reported as a memorandum of understanding. The key points are below.
- StarCharge, a Chinese company that makes EV chargers and smart energy systems, will work with McDonald's Pakistan on charging at suitable restaurant locations
- The idea is that drivers can charge their cars while they eat or stop at a drive through
- Both sides will first assess each possible site for technical feasibility, infrastructure needs and commercial viability
- Only after that review will installation go ahead
The agreement was signed in the presence of Jamil Mughal, Chief Operating Officer of McDonald's Pakistan, and Omar Malik, Chief Executive Officer of StarCharge Pakistan, along with teams from both companies.
What has not been announced
No number of chargers, no list of cities or branches, no installation timeline and no charging price were shared at the signing. The companies also have not said whether the sites will get DC fast chargers or slower AC units. Until those details come out, treat this as a plan to build a network rather than a network you can use today.
What the government said
Rana Tanveer Hussain said an accessible charging network is essential if electric vehicles are going to be practical and popular, and that charging difficulties can put people off using them. He made several other points at the ceremony.
- The Prime Minister wants 30 percent of vehicles in Pakistan to be electric, including cars, motorcycles and three wheelers
- Charging facilities have been made a requirement in building approvals for major shopping malls and high rise buildings, involving the Lahore Development Authority and the Capital Development Authority
- Charging along motorways matters most for long distance travel, even as the range of electric cars improves
- He has visited StarCharge's factory in China and described it as one of the leading companies in EV charging
The minister also said he formulated and announced the EV policy while serving as Minister for Industries and Production, under which electric motorcycles were distributed.
Why drive through sites make sense
Charging works best where people already stop. A restaurant gives drivers a reason to wait, and many large branches sit on main roads and highway exits with space for parking bays. That mix of footfall, parking and long opening hours is why restaurants and fuel stations are common places to put chargers in many countries.
The catch is time. A typical drive through visit lasts a few minutes, and even a meal rarely takes more than half an hour. A slow AC charger adds very little range in that window. For these sites to be truly useful on a highway trip, they would need DC fast chargers, which cost more to install and need a strong grid connection. That is likely to be part of the feasibility checks both companies mention.
AC or DC charging and why it matters here
There are two broad kinds of public charger. AC chargers, usually 7 kW to 22 kW, are the same type many owners fit at home and suit long stops such as a working day or an overnight stay. DC fast chargers deliver much more power straight to the battery and can add a large share of range in well under an hour, depending on the car.
Many plug in hybrids rely mainly on AC charging, while most battery electric cars can use both. So the mix of chargers at each McDonald's site will decide who actually benefits. A site with only AC units helps city owners topping up during a meal, while DC units would make the network useful for intercity trips on the motorway.
What it means for EV and plug in hybrid owners
For now, home charging remains the backbone for most owners in Pakistan. Several brands bundle a home charger with their cars, as with the free 7 kW unit offered on the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid and the charger included with the Chery Q EV launch. Public charging at restaurants, malls and motorway stops is what turns an electric car from a city runabout into something you can confidently drive between cities.
More charging points also help the business case for local assembly. BYD, for example, says it is in talks about ultra fast charging as its Pakistan plant nears launch, which we covered in our report on BYD's plan for a regional NEV hub.
If you are weighing an electric car or a plug in hybrid against petrol, compare running costs with the current petrol price in Pakistan, browse electric and hybrid options on our new cars page, and put your shortlist side by side in the car comparison tool. Tax rules can also change the sums, so read our explainer on the IMF's battery EV tax challenge and booking rules before you commit.
What to watch next
The next useful news will be the first confirmed sites, the type of chargers, the price per unit and the payment method. We will update this story when StarCharge and McDonald's Pakistan share those details.