ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: The Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Liaquat Ali Jatoi has invited Volvo Company to assemble cars and buses in Pakistan.

He was addressing launching ceremony of world's renowned Volvo FM Truck of VPL Limited, a Swedish company, here Tuesday. The minister inaugurated the FM Truck on behalf of the Prime Minister Ch. Shujat Hussain due to his other important engagements.

He said there is huge demand of cars and due to this the local car assemblers are not delivering the vehicles to the customers on time. He said that the government would provide all assistance to the Volvo Company for assembling cars and buses in Pakistan and also stressed the need for transfer of technology.

He said that Pakistan has potential and would soon become business hub of Central Asian States. Perceptions could be different and the securities matters are improving as well as the issues like fuel efficiency are also being improved from the environmental point of view, he said.

The Managing Director of VPL Limited Kanooz Mohyuddin, in his address of welcome stated that the FM truck is the first truck in Pakistan with EURO-3. He also asked the government to improve oil efficiency and make legislation for good vehicles on the road. He said the company would invest more in this sector.

Thomas Thurison, Marketing Manager of Volvo Swedish-Pakistan Company said the Volvo is large producer of truck and buses in the world and have 130 markets. He asked the government to implement the EURO-3 standards in Pakistan. Later, the Minister launched the Volvo FM Truck and appreciated the technology and manufacturing standard. -APP