Total relaxation for initial period of three years in the mandatory deletion programme has been demanded by Prime Transport Limited (PTL), a joint venture with LTI Vehicles Ltd, of United Kingdom, set up here for manufacturing of London's famous 'Black Cab' in Pakistan.
Ghulam Mustafa, PTL Company Secretary, told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the company has asked for relaxation in view of the fact that locally manufactured parts are not available in the market because of huge demand from other manufacturers of other vehicles here.
He said that plans for the manufacture and assembly of 'Black Cabs' have almost been finalised, and the company was awaiting some clarifications on concessions it has asked for from the government to facilitate implementation of the project.
British Deputy High Commissioner Hamish Daniel recently visited the office of PTL and discussed matters relating to assembly, manufacture and operations of the 'Black Cab' project. The PTL Chief Executive gave a detailed presentation and emphasised that a project of this magnitude could not be successfully implemented without generous support of the governments of United Kingdom and Pakistan.
He also highlighted the bottlenecks and problems which were likely to cause delay in the project. These warranted sympathetic consideration by the two governments, he said. PTL has already requested the Government of Pakistan to give special treatment to the project in as much as it is a project of welfare, which aims at providing safe, economical, efficient and reliable public transport facility to the people.
According to PTL, Daniel discussed the pros and cons of the project and its implementation in great detail and expressed satisfaction that the investment climate in Pakistan was conducive to promote business. He said that the Government of Great Britain was deeply interested in the development and prosperity of Pakistan, owing to strong relations between the two countries for decades. U K was also keenly interested in boosting trade relations between two countries, he said.
Daniel assured his full support to PTL in its project of manufacturing and operating 'Black Cabs' in Pakistan.
PTL was for quite some time working on a plan for operating Satellite Controlled Taxi Service (SCTS) in all major cities of Pakistan. A meeting was held between Abdul Sami Khan, Chairman, M Dawood Khan, Chief Executive, PTL, and the directors of LTI Vehicles Ltd, United Kingdom who are the largest British owned vehicle manufacturers.
It was mutually resolved that LTI Vehicles would join PTL as its joint venture partner to set up a car assembly plant in Pakistan, preferably in close vicinity of Karachi, wherein 'Black Cab', operating as a purpose-built taxi in London, would be assembled from CKD kits to be supplied by LTI Vehicles, UK. TPL will also act as sole distributor for export of these taxis to Middle East, other Asian countries and Africa.
PTL intends to operate SCTS throughout Pakistan to provide safe, efficient, personalised, reliable and economical transport service to commuters at their doorsteps.
With this purpose in mind, the proposed taxi would be fitted with instruments of latest technology such as Satellite Controlled Tracking System, Seat & Door Sensors, Electronic Meters, Camera, Corporate and Credit Card Readers.
The taxi service will be available at the doorsteps of commuters against a telephone call or SMS.
PTL is sponsored by non-resident Pakistanis who have substantial business interests abroad. By joining hands with LTI Vehicles, UK, a sizeable foreign exchange investment will be brought to Pakistan, according to PTL.
The project, as envisaged, is also likely to create a large number of direct and indirect employment opportunities, besides contributing towards Pakistan government's objective to provide dependable and economical public transport facilities to the people of Pakistan.
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