Auto makers fail to provide information required by EDB

The auto assemblers are not providing relevant information to the Engineering Development Board (EDB) including the price of their vehicles, it was learnt. Sources in the EDB said that the issue was taken up in the last Auto Industry Development Committee (AIDC) and the former protested "that companies either do not respond or respond very slowly if any information such as prices is required by the EDB."
The EDB has reportedly sought intervention of the Pakistan Auto Manufacturers Association (PAMA) to ensure provision/availability of relevant data from the Original Equipment Manufacturers as and when requested. The AIDC meeting was held in the EDB with its Chief Executive Officer Aitzaz Niazi in the chair and was attended by the representatives of PAMA and Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Associates Manufacturers (PAPAAM) to discuss the industry related issues and propose measures in the budget for their solution. The officials of the EDB said that they would keep PAMA informed about all such requests and would seek its help for getting required information from the local auto manufacturers.
The meeting held discussion on future of Tariff Based System (TBS) which was introduced in Auto Industry Development Plan (AIDP) for the development of local industry and to ensure localisation of hi-tech parts. The five year period of TBS is nearing expiration and may be replaced with some other system. Previously, deletion programme was replaced with the TBS. Sources said that a detailed presentation about the alternative system to replace TBS was given by the PAMA and PAPAAM but it was decided that the discussion on presentation would be held in the next meeting of the AIDC, probably prior to the budget. Some proposals in this regard were presented by the industry as well as duty structure for various items which are not being manufactured locally.
An official told Business Recorder that the EDB was not ready to commit anything at this stage and wanted to have a detailed deliberation on the alternative plan and requested the industry to provide a justification why the parts recommended by them should be included in the generic list. The industry reportedly has recommended inclusion of some parts in the generic list for import at zero percent rate of duty.