Sequel to the letter published in your newspaper, on 28th June by Ali Akbar Agha, I want to make a few points: Pakistani car customers are facing a cartel of car manufacturing companies. Thousands of consumers having imported cars are satisfied with their decisions that is why the number of imported cars is rising every month.
Akbar Agha tried to mislead the people by saying that imported cars do not add anything to the national kitty. On the contrary the duties are paid in full before these cars leave the port.
As far as the service is concerned it is a proven fact that after a year's warranty both roadside vendors and local manufacturers are the same; later however charging exorbitantly.
I have locally assembled car which has some manufacturing faults, I have been unsuccessful after spending money and time to get rid of it. In my opinion government of Pakistan, for the sake of consumers, has taken a sensible decision of allowing import of used cars and by the way the government is a patriot than anybody else.
Otherwise Agha would have to blame the government for importing sugar also. I believe Agha, being a patriot Pakistani, would not be buying sugar for Rs 48 a kg just because it was made in Pakistan.
WTO favours such measures of openness of trade. So, in my opinion this is not a matter of patriotism; in fact it is a matter of consumers' satisfaction and openness of trade. We should not mix up these sentimental point with trade, we also should not forget the rights of the consumers.
Akbar Agha should understand the definition of Open Market Economy: an economy is said to be open if it has trade with other economies, which are supported by WTO.
So in view of the government's current decision, let the people make their decision and let them get rid of Pakistani car manufacturing cartel.
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