ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production on Tuesday recommended that internationally accepted minimum safety features, like airbags and antilock braking system (ABS) must be made mandatory in all vehicles manufactured in the country.

Chairman of the committee Asad Umar said that local car manufacturers were making heavy profits and it was noted that delivery of cars was being delayed by up to two months which was benefiting dealers.

“Duty should be reduced on import of safety-related material to make these features cheap in the locally manufactured cars,” he added.

Member of the committee Abdul Manan said that 50,000 accidents are reported annually in the country, while 13,000 people get maimed due to poor safety standards in automobiles.

Ijaz Ahmed of Engineering Development Board (EDB) said there was a need to revise motor vehicle rules to ensure safety of people.

The committee recommended to place cars on priority list of Pakistan Quality Control Standards Authority to ensure safety of people.

Industries Minister Murtaza Jatoi said that government was going to announce incentives for smaller cars in the new policy to provide relief to consumers.

The committee also took notice of sugar shortage at franchises of Utility Stores Corporations (USC).

The committee was informed that six departments under the industries ministry had no permanent heads and were being run through acting chiefs.

USC Acting MD Sultan Mahmood told the committee that tenders to procure sugar were floated several times but response of sugar mills was not encouraging.

He said that a case had also been moved to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to take action against sugar mills for their alleged cartelisation in this respect.

Asad Umar noted that sugar mills have formed a cartel and they were apparently reluctant to provide supply to USC. The committee recommended ending subsidy on exports in a bid to ensure supply to USC.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015