January 28, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 24, 1423

LAHORE, Jan 27: The automobile assemblers should use their existing “base” in this country to explore the regional markets in order to increase their sales as well as to achieve the volumes of scales, says the commerce minister.

Addressing the businessmen at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here on Monday, Humayun Akhtar Khan deplored the fact that consumers had to wait for months and months for the delivery of their cars even after depositing the entire price.

He said they (the consumers) also had to pay “huge amounts” to get immediate delivery of their car. “I wouldn’t call it premium but it is a fact that the end-consumers get a raw deal.”

He also reminded the gathering that the EU and the IMF had recently put a great deal of pressure on Pakistan to lower the tariff protection enjoyed by the car assemblers. But, he said, “we will try to honour commitment (given to the assemblers).” He also added that the issue could be resolved through negotiations (with assemblers, the EU and the IMF).