The government should come up with a clear-cut policy to end the custom of allowing the imports of used cars since it has a destructive impact on local industrialization of the country.
This was stated by Ismail Suttar, Director of Employers Federation of Pakistan and Chairman of EFP Economic Council. Suttar further said that when the government is fully geared towards radically cutting down the import bill, the unbridled import of used cars and spare parts is a mega deterrent towards industrialization and employment generation.
He said that the threat of large-scale unemployment in an industry that provides four million jobs is a serious matter and must not be taken lightly by the policy-makers.
Suttar, moreover, wondered why, on the one hand, the government has given permission for 15 new automotive companies while on the other hand, it is strangulating the already established automotive industry.
Suttar further said that EFP, being the apex body of domestic enterprises, has been getting frantic calls from members of the automotive industry to take up its case with relevant authorities.
He demanded that it is high time the import mindset of decision makers is changed into promoting innovative export-based initiatives and curbing the tendency to make Pakistan a junkyard of dumped imported goods.
"When will we, as a nation, finally start working towards materializing the Make in Pakistan vision," Suttar asked.-PR