ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his government will facilitate the manufacturing of low-cost vehicles.

He stated this while talking to Managing Director and CEO Pak Suzuki Company Ltd Hirofumi Nagao who called on the premier here on Saturday.

According to an official statement, the premier said that the government as part of its overall transport policy was encouraging production of low-cost, fuel-efficient vehicles to cater to the needs of the growing middle class.

Mr Gilani said that the government was encouraging the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in vehicles, which is less damaging to the environment besides being affordable.

He said that in the trade policy the government had also invited Indian manufacturers to make investment in manufacturing of CNG buses to help reduce the transport fares for general public.

The premier said there was a need to match the production of vehicles with the growing demand so that their delivery time was reduced.

He said there was a great demand for CNG-run jeeps in the rural areas and the management of Pak Suzuki may consider prioritising the manufacture of affordable CNG jeeps for the farming community.

Mr Hirofumi Nagao informed the premier that his company had completed its 25 years in Pakistan in addition to achieving the production mark of one million vehicles this year.

He said that Pak Suzuki was the only CNG car manufacturer in the country and added that the auto industry sector had a lot of potential.

About future plans, Mr Nagao said that his company had taken a number of initiatives to bring in new technology for producing more parts locally, to introduce low-cost vehicles and to make Pakistan an exporting country of its products to the Middle East and Central Asia.