KARACHI, March 5 The government plans to introduce Euro-II emission standards for all petrol-related vehicles, imported or locally assembled, from July 1, 2009, while such standards for diesel vehicles would be enforced from July 1, 2012.

The Engineering Development Board has forwarded a draft of the Euro-II standards to stakeholders as proposed by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. The board after soliciting views would forward these comments to the environment ministry.

Under the National Environmental Quality Standards for motor vehicle exhaust and noise, the environment ministry has set standards (maximum permissible limits and measuring methods) and measuring methods for smoke, carbon monoxide and noise.

Director-General, Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association, Abdul Waheed Khan, said the association is holding discussions on the issue with the EDB, the Ministry of Environment and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, and the association would give its feed-back to the government shortly. He said some car-makers had already introduced Euro-II compliant engines while others are in the process of launching them.

He added that a draft notification can be considered final and there might be some corrections before issuing a final notification.

An official in the EDB, who asked not to be named, told Dawn from Islamabad that actually the ministry of environment was endeavoring for compliance of Euro standards in vehicles.

The issue, he said, was discussed with stakeholders in the meeting of the technical committee of the auto development plan last month.

He was of the view that some assemblers were not ready to adopt these standards as they had linked future investment on assembling Euro-II vehicles to possible permission for duty-free imports of spares.

The official said that the EDB had also asked assemblers to provide a list of spares they intend to import duty-free, but so far they have not submitted the list.

In May 2008, the Pak-Suzuki Motor Company Limited had asked the government to allow import of Euro-II complaint auto parts from India at zero-rated duty for local assembly with Euro-II engine in the country. However, the local vendor industry had opposed the move.

Besides of some assemblers of bikes and a local tractor making company had also sought permission to import parts at zero- rated duty from various sources. Auto sector sources said a tractor maker, Pak-Suzuki and Dewan Motors had already submitted list of parts for approval.

Chairman, Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers, Mohammad Sabir Shaikh, said he had asked the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority to give its view to Chinese bike makers also under the current position of various PSQSA standards. He said that the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, the EDB and Ministry of Industries have not given proper guidelines on the Euro-II stardards to around 60 Chinese bike- makers.

He added that makers of Honda and Suzuki bike of 100-125cc and makers of Ravi bike, members of PAMA, had introduced higher engine capacity Euro-II compliant bikes.

Before introducing high quality engines in the local assembly, the government should first ensures availability of infrastructure as per European standards, like road network.