Pakistan auto parts show: Railways will support local vendor industry, assures Rasheed

"Pakistan Railways will support local vendor industry and will not be imported those parts which can be produced in the country," said the Federal Minister for Railways Minister, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed at the 'Gala Dinner' of Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS) 2019 on the other day.
He said that with 70 million commuters Pakistan Railway can be a huge market for auto parts maker and also invited PAAPAM to come and explore the opportunities of joint ventures. "Until and unless businessmen come in front we cannot address economic challenges," he added.
Sheikh Rasheed also shared his vision and said every member of the society and organization should come forward to cater the issue of unemployment. He said that auto industry has the potential of addressing unemployment issues.
Referencing his visit to Toyota Japan, he said that whole town was involved in producing some sort of products for Toyota, creating employment opportunities at massive scale.
Meanwhile, Chairman PAAPAM Ashraf Sheikh said, "Pakistan Railways used to be a big customer for the automotive parts manufacturers. A lot of members have grown in size with the growth of Pakistan Railways in procuring auto parts from within Pakistan.
But now the situation has been changed rather the Pakistan Railways rely more on import of parts. Similarly, a strong localization plan in shape of auto parts development policy needs to be in place so that more import substitution may be created. Integration of PAAPAM members with international companies for joint ventures has become a need of the time.
Chairman PAPS Mashood Ali Khan said that minister's cooperation on this subject would pave way to develop the local automotive industry to reach the desired levels of production and utilization of the industry on catching the need of the railways to develop and repair the coaches lying unusable in the railway yards.