Booking of vehicles: Senate body irked by 'own money'

Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production on Thursday sought details of five-year principal payments, 'own-money', and booking of vehicles from three local assemblers. Presided over by Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan, the meeting was attended by Senators Fateh Muhammd Hasani, Ilyas Bilour, Idrees Safi and Zahid Khan (a special invitee).
The committee discussed Zahid Khan's query that he raised in the Senate session held on September 16, 2011 which was referred to the committee. It was about extra charge at the time of delivery of Toyota vehicles by Indus Motor Company from customers (other than the amount charged at the time of booking of vehicles under the guise of increase in the prices of vehicles).
Zahid Khan informed the committee that he booked a car in July 2011 which was delivered after 45 days despite the fact that he paid the entire amount to the company at the time of booking maintaining that local auto assemblers are fleecing customers. Ilyas Bilour, who also belongs to ANP, supported the viewpoint of Zahid Khan, saying that local car assemblers use money of customers for six months before delivery of cars.
A representative of Toyota seemed to have failed to defend 'own-money' charges against auto assemblers, dismissing the question by stating that auto companies have their own pricing mechanism. "We formulated a policy two years back according to which cars are delivered in two weeks," he added.
Fateh Muhammad Hasani argued that local car assemblers have strengthened their corrupt practices in connivance with Ministries of Commerce, Finance and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), adding that thousands of rupees are being charged from customers under the guise of 'own-money'. He suggested that a mechanism should be put in place to control local auto assemblers.
He also suggested that a sub committee of Senate committee be constituted to review the affairs of three auto assemblers ie M/s Toyota, M/s Honda and M/s Suzuki. However, Secretary Industries and Production informed the committee that the ECC has constituted a committee on auto sector which will submit its report within one month. Standing committee directed Utility Stores Corporation (USC) to maintain standard of goods in Ramazan. The government has extended a subsidy of Rs 2 billion for Ramazan so that people should be provided items at affordable rates.
The committee also discussed the performance of Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA). Fateh Muhammad Hasani expressed dissatisfaction at the performance of EPZA. He alleged that only three persons, who are close relatives, are working in the authority in Balochistan and causing billions of rupees loss to the national exchequer. General Manager EPZA informed the committee that a ten-year agreement was signed with the company in 2002 which has been extended for another five years. The Committee directed Secretary Industries and Production to probe the agreement and submit a detailed report.