The Auto Industry Development Plan (AIDP) has been finalized to increase the production of cars in Pakistan from 200,000 to 500,000 by the year 2011, says an official statement. The plan will also help make local auto industry more competitive, creating capacity for local design and innovation, domestic competition, human resource development and auto cluster development. Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Minister Jahangir Khan Tareen was talking to the chief executive officers and chairmen of leading Car Assemblers of Pakistan. On the issue of import of used cars, the Minister said that keeping in view the interests of both the assemblers and the consumers, under the AIDP, the used car import policy will be regulated so as not to impede the growth of local industry while protecting the consumer interests. It was also agreed that indigenization of the local auto industry will be done as required under the AIDP. The Minister said that Government is keen to bring indigenization in the local auto industry. Tareen and car assemblers agreed to set up a constitutional mechanism involving both the government and the auto industry for regular assessment of AIDP implementation. The draft was discussed in detail with the car assemblers and they were in agreement with the Ministry on almost all points of the draft. The car assemblers said that it is encouraging that the Government is putting forward a broad framework under which the local industry can grow and they termed AIDP an incentive in itself.
