ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan on Monday told the National Assembly that the government was not considering to import cheap cars from China.

In a written reply to a question by Asif Tauseef, the minister said there was no proposal under the consideration of the government to import 400CC (cylinder capacity) or 600CC cheap cars from China. But the private sector might be importing such cars, he added.

However, he said the import of new cars was permissible from worldwide sources except from India and Israel. Such cars could be imported both by public as well as by the private sector, he added.

To another question, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given a loan of $688.98 million to Pakistan during the last three years other than that for the judicial reforms.

Out of the $688 million, about $233.46 million was provided under the head of agriculture and rural development, $35.57 million for physical infrastructure, $203 million for the energy sector and $216 million for finance, governance, legal and trade sector.