KARACHI, July 23: Automobile assemblers sold 42,341 motor cars during the last fiscal year ending on June 30, 2002 as against 38,047 cars sold during 2000-01.

A press release of Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) on Tuesday claimed that waiting period of the customers of some of the popular makes and new models is “gradually shortening”.

Automobile buyers have been complaining of prolong waiting period of the popular makes and new models of motor cars during last several months. Automobile companies collected huge amounts as down payments from the customers but had been delaying the delivery and earning substantial profits on the deposits.

The PAMA in its press release has said that carmakers made special efforts during the second half of the outgoing fiscal year (January to June 2002) to meet an “unexpected large demands for cars”. The sale of cars during second half of this fiscal was 23,202 as against 19,139 in preceding six months of July to December 2001.

Car sales during the entire 2001-02 at 42,341, the PAMA press release said, was record highest and higher than the previous highest of 38,047 in 2000-01. In last six years the average sales of car every year was 34,281.

According to the data provided by PAMA, the sale of trucks during last fiscal year was 1,208, buses 1,065, LCVs 9,033, tractors 24,001 and motorcycles 120,083.