Pakistan Auto Show 2025: ‘empowering auto localisation need for long sustainable growth’

KARACHI: Pakistan’s auto industry needed to be empowered enough to attain long-term and sustainable growth, industry experts said, as a number of auto and motorcycle enthusiasts were seen at the Pakistan Auto Show 2025 on Saturday.

The three-day show started on Friday at Karachi Expo Centre.

“Empowering auto localisation is need for long sustainable growth, but how and on what ground, it required debate among stakeholders, as since last forty years we haven’t achieved the good results on localisation,“ auto sector analyst Shafiq Ahmed Shaikh said.

“In my opinion, Pakistan’s auto industry must be paired with the vendors own investment, introduction of new technologies, and investment/joint ventures from global vendors.”

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Shaikh said the influx of existing billions of rupees in investment in introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) and new advanced technologies reflected “a long-term vision and the trust in the current government”.

“It is revolution and for this to succeed, long-term policies, incentives, and benefits must be provided to the EV sector. This will create more jobs, will also introduce world-class state of the technologies, and boost the positioning Pakistan on par with global standards in innovation and climate action.

“Moreover, I am suggesting that gap between Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and Completely Built Unit (CBU) should not be more, as due to this the volumes of industry will improve and then definitely it can increase government revenue,“ Shaikh maintained.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufactures (PAAPAM) senior vice chairman Shehryar Qadir said the automobile sectors contribution was almost 3% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and almost 15% to large scale manufacturing (LSM).

“Promoting the automobile sector particularly through local manufacturing is bound to have a favourable contribution towards developing the economy & country.”

He said the local parts manufacturing industry was already contributing over $1.25 billion of import substitution annually.

“The growth of this number will not only save precious foreign exchange from leaving the country but will also create thousands of more jobs within the country.”

Zain Shariq, chief organiser of the Pakistan Auto Show 2025 said it was the 20th edition of the expo this year.

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“[This year,] visitors will not only experience a three dimensional perspective on the automotive industry, but also be able to participate in exciting concerts, games, and car launches on the show floor. With over 172 exhibitors and every major automotive brands and EV seller participating, this is a must see experience,” Shariq said.