March 29, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 20, 1429

RAWALPINDI, March 28: The roadside and illiterate untrained mechanics have no answer to the vehicles equipped with latest technologies and electronically controlled fuel injections, which are now making their ways to roads in all parts of the country.Kenichi Ayukawa, who is heading the Pak-Suzuki Motor Company in Pakistan, made these observations here on Thursday night while inaugurating a private sector high-tech facility of international standards to handle automobiles with latest technologies.

The government has recently allowed import of a maximum of three years old used vehicles in a bid to shake the monopolies of leading car manufacturers of Japan and South Korea. All such vehicles are equipped with latest technologies and electronic systems which are beyond the understanding of roadside mechanics.

People who have purchased the used imported vehicles face difficulties due to the lack of service facilities and spare parts. Maintenance of all such vehicles has become a source of problems and the situation could only be normalised when service facilities are made available in addition to spare parts. The obtaining situation warrants that Pakistan should have facilities to handle vehicles equipped with latest technologies.

Mr Ayukawa welcomed the newly established facility in Rawalpindi developed by Mr. Sohail Altaf, but underlined the need for human resource development.

The facility manned by proper trained human resource can only create a healthy competition in the market for the satisfaction of automobile users.

Kenichi Ayukawa said Pak-Suzuki maintains the share of plus 60pc in the total auto market of Pakistan and the quality of after sales service it was contemplating on as demonstrated by the facility at Rawalpindi, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Altaf, whose investment led to the creation of the facility, presented a detailed account of the well-planned and well-equipped services available at the facility.