KARACHI: The Engineering Development Board (EDB) is planning to set up quality testing centres for trucks, cars and motorcycles in major cities to protect consumers’ interest.

EDB Chief Executive Officer Tariq Ejaz Chaudhry during a meeting with members and representatives of the auto industry at the Federation House on Thursday, also stated that the board is going to take over Pakistan Automotive Institute in Karachi and convert it into a state-of-the-art testing centre which will be the first of its kind in the country.

He said that testing centres would be set up in Lahore and Islamabad with the help of Japanese automobile manufacturers, along with a liaison office in Karachi for quick coordination with the industry.

“The working of the EDB has been streamlined in order to facilitate automotive and auto industry and protect consumers’ interest.” Mr Chaudhry was highly critical of the local assemblers because of their use of obsolete technology and manufacturing of old models.

He said the government will never welcome any investment which does not introduce modern technology because consumers cannot be deprived of quality and safety.

Local assemblers are not bringing new models every 3 to 5 years despite making an agreement with the government, he added.

He also asked why car imports from Japan were not being reduced when the same is also being assembled locally Japanese manufacturers.

According to him, local assemblers have monopolised the market and this is against the interest of consumers. Most of the local car assemblers are marketing their brands on zero inventory which shows strong demand in the market, he maintained.

He urged manufacturers to share their technology so the EDB can effectively control the quality and standard of products.

Even today 70 to 90 per cent of automobiles and auto parts such as spark plugs, windscreens, fuel injectors are not being locally manufactured, he lamented.

He disclosed that the Free Trade Agreement with China has been halted and negotiations for a second phase are going on which will also deal with issues like HS codes. Similarly, FTA with Iran, Turkey and regional countries were being reviewed. All this is being done because of under invoicing, he added.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016