Auto industry wants consistent car policy
ISLAMABAD: Perturbed by facilitation extended to overseas Pakistanis in import of cars through gift and baggage schemes, the automobile industry has asked the government to prepare a long term policy for the sector, which must be unalterable, at least, for three years, an official of one of the leading car manufacturing firms told Daily Times.
The car manufacturers informed the government that it would disturb the plan of further investment of the automobile industry, if the government continued to change policy regarding import of vehicles every year.
In recent meetings held in the ministry of industries and the Engineering Development Board (EDB) following the government’s decision to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis in importing old and used cars, the representatives of the auto industry have been pressing for a three-year policy.
Under the policy, the government would not allow import of cars and other vehicles under the budget and the trade policy, the official said and added that the government would not also raise or curtail taxes and duties levied on the automobile industry.
Following the recent facilitation in the import of old and used cars in the trade policy, the government of Japan has taken up the issue with the government and threatened that facilitation in the import of automobiles may hinder the expansion of car manufacturing sector in Pakistan.
Following his talks with Japanese authorities during a recent tour to Japan, the prime minister Shaukat Aziz directed the ministry of industries and production not to prepare any plan seeking government’s permission to import reconditioned cars.
According to the official, the car manufacturers are planning to bridge the gap between demand and supply to help consumers in getting their cars within one month of booking. He admitted that the practice of “own is a bad thing and has earned them a bad name.
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