Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) vehemently opposes liberalising the import policy of used vehicles on the pretext of rationalising prices of locally manufactured vehicles. This was stated by Syed Nabeel Hashmi, Vice Chairman, Paapam while addressing a meeting of the Standing Committee on Cars, Buses & Trucks, here on Friday.
He said due to the ministry of commerce's past policies, the local market has already been gutted with used trucks and buses, which have been converted after unlawful import as "special purpose vehicles". The import of such used vehicles has far surpassed the production volumes of local assemblers of heavy vehicles, thereby gradually shutting down the businesses of the local auto parts vendor industry, he added.
Hashmi feared that the proposed government policies will jeopardise the entire local industry of assemblers and auto-parts manufacturers who are already on the brink of collapse owing to plummeting tractor sales by 90 and buses sales by 60 percent. He argued that government's failure to reconsider its policies will force the organised sector to eventually close down factories, resulting in massive unemployment and loss of revenues to the government, as well as shattering of foreign investors' confidence in the country. Concluding, Papaam vice-chairman said that promoting such liberal import policies as a tool to generate quick revenues in the shape of custom duty at the cost investment of billions of rupees in the automotive industry, will lead to an economic disaster in the country. He demanded immediate ban on import of used cars and other vehicles.