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Tractor import plan shelved
Friday, May 22, 2009
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has said that only locally-made tractors would be provided to farmers at subsidised rates under the Benazir Tractor Scheme, as the plan to import tractors has been shelved.
The minister was talking to Pakistan Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association Vice Chairman Tariq Nazir. He said the import of vehicles older than 10 years would not be allowed and the policy in this regard would continue in the forthcoming budget. He hinted at reviewing 15 per cent regulatory duty on steel products because there are fears that the duty would have a negative impact on the auto industry besides increasing prices of vehicles.
Nazir informed the minister that the local industry has the capacity to meet domestic demand so there was no need of importing tractors. He said that besides the fact that the local vending industry was highly developed and modernised, it was also ensuring spare parts, service and repair facilities to the farmers at their door steps.
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