ADP formally notified: government expects 2-3 new companies'' investment in auto sector

The government said Tuesday that it expects two or three new companies'' investment in the auto sector after the formal notification of recently approved Automotive Development Plan (ADP) but acknowledged lack of any forum to address the grievances of consumers of auto sector. Secretary Ministry of Industries Khizar Hayat Gondal informed the committee during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production headed by Senator Hayatullah on ADP 2016-21 that the government wants more auto companies in the country for healthy competition and to provide choices to the auto consumers.
The committee members were not satisfied with the briefing on ADP and stated the government has made the policy but there is nothing about quality control and standards as well as price in the documents because all these factors directly impact the consumers. Senator Mian Antique Sheikh stated that there is nothing in the ADP for consumers'' protection, adding consumers are completely dissatisfied with the locally produced vehicles. The committee also sought details from the EDB with respect to foreign investment in the auto sector. A delegation of Renault would be visiting Pakistan today (Wednesday) to explore possibilities of investment in Pakistan''s auto sector, said Ajmal Sharif of the Engineering Development Board (EDB).
Ajmal Sharif said that EDB challenges are lack of implementation/enforcement powers as well as lack of cost or price control in auto sector and engineering industry and conformance to quality and standards. The meeting was informed that recommendations made by the EDB are dependent on other ministries.
He acknowledged that there is not any forum for auto consumers in the country to register their grievances or complaints in case of problems. He further stated that there is a website on the EDB where the consumers could lodge their complaints. However, he stated that a committee proposed in the ADP would suggest some kind of mechanism for redressal of the consumers'' complaints regarding vehicles.
The EDB further informed the committee that a meeting of the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar constituted a committee under the chairmanship of minister for water and power and state chairman privatisation commission Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, etc, to finalise the ADP after detailed deliberation with all the stakeholders. About the future strategy, he stated that the EDB future strategies are implementation of automotive development plan and of new technologies through technology transfer and alliances.