Engineering Development Board (EDB) has reportedly become a "no go area" for the auto industry seeking enhancement of quotas under the prescribed policy, well informed sources in EDB told Business Recorder. Pakistan Association of Automobile Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), a representative body of auto parts manufacturers, has written several times to the Secretary Industries about the poor performance of EDB.
The source said technical officials who were dealing with the tariff issues have been sidelined by the top boss of the organisation. Bureaucratic hurdles continue to limit the effectivity of strategies to improve the ease of doing business environment in Pakistan, sources in the Ministry told Business Recorder; and noted that General Manager (Tariff) EDB Mirza Nasir Baig (who faced investigation during the tenure of former Secretary Industries, Arif Azim for illegally supporting a Lahore-based company) is deferring prospective investors' request for enhancing quotas, and is also reportedly placing obstacles in extending government incentive policies to local engineering entities. The auto industry, sources said, is deeply concerned about becoming uncompetitive in national and international market as their requests are being turned down.