KARACHI: Imports of used vehicles swelled 51 per cent to 18,664 units during January-April as compared to the same period of the last year.
Of them, 3,394 were economy segment vehicles while 6,666 units were of small low segment, Pakistan Automobile Assemblers Dealers Association (Pamada) Vice-Chairman Iqbal Shah said in a statement while quoting Customs data. These imports were 1,902 and 4,541 units during the same period a year earlier.
Moreover, 2,251 units of small high segment were imported as compared to 1,247 units in the same period of the last year.
The collective imports of vans, minivans and pick-ups went up to 4,869 units from 2,997.
Mr Shah claimed that the import of less than 1,800cc segment has caused an estimated loss to the national kitty of more than Rs12 billion in terms of taxes and duties.
The local auto industry has been questioning since long the rationale behind the import of used cars at a time when the government is striving to attract foreign investors like Fiat and Volkswagen, he said.
Used car imports were thriving by exploiting baggage and gift schemes, the local industry claims.
Mr Shah urged the government to revise the duties on used cars based on current prices and give the auto and parts manufacturing industry a level-playing field.
Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016