LAHORE: The local automotive industry continues to play a crucial role in strengthening the national economy and elevating Pakistan’s image as a progressive country with a strong industrial base, said Engineering Development Board CEO Tariq Chaudhry on Friday.
Inaugurating the three-day Pakistan Auto Show (PAS) 2016, organised by the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) at the Expo Centre, Mr Chaudhry said that the government was committed to taking all possible measures to provide a conducive environment for encouraging large-scale investments in the automotive and engineering sectors.
PAAPAM Chairman Mumshad Ali said the demand for automobiles was expected to rise continuously over the next 3-5 years.
He said countries of comparable population like Indonesia produced 1.3 million vehicles annually.
The big challenge for Pakistan is to give confidence to local assemblers and vendors to make immediate investments in capacity expansions for meeting the upcoming demand, he added.
PAAPAM former chairman Syed Nabeel Hashmi said the event attracted more than 75,000 visitors from all over Pakistan and abroad who saw the revolutionary technologies being deployed in Pakistan.
Mr Hashmi said the automotive industry alone could boost Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing to six to seven per cent as it was a capital-intensive industry adding high value to local products.
He stressed that the government must introduce an effective auto-policy at the earliest to support the industry.
The first day of PAS 2016 saw an overwhelming response from industry stakeholders, international large-scale buyers and diverse consumer segments as well as auto enthusiasts.
The show featured cars, tractors, 4X4 vehicles, motorcycles, three-wheelers and exotic cars. A wide array of advanced technologies and solutions were displayed at the event.
Some 135 international and local auto-manufacturers and related enterprises were in attendance.
“We are on our first-ever visit to Pakistan to introduce our folding electric bike in the local market and are awaiting suitable local partners for the purpose,” said Mr Li Li, the sales manager of Tesill company.
He said the company was selling its brand in Europe and Russia and was looking to explore Pakistan as a potential market for its motorcycles.
Dealing in latest welding equipment for multiple industries, CEO TMD International Talha S. Kirmani said he was expecting serious business customers for their robotic technology from Saturday.
People who contacted the company could not turn up because of protests and traffic problem in Lahore, he added.
“We have launched the robotic system for auto industry and so far five to six companies have adopted this new technology in Pakistan. We are expecting new and old vendors from the auto sector. The show is a good place to see business customers at one place,” he said.
