KARACHI, Jan 5: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) have urged the government to extend the age limit of used cars from three to five years for imports.

In a statement issued on Saturday, FPCCI president Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani said that instead of penalising car manufacturers for non-completion of deletion program as per schedule, the government is providing them unnecessary protection by reducing the age limit of imported used cars.He further said that reduction of age limit from five to three years has slashed down sharply the pace of imports of used cars mainly due to increase in their price by Rs60,000 to Rs260,000 on models from 600cc to 1800cc respectively.

“The FPCCI feels that the decision was taken to provide undue benefit to the local car manufacturing industry. The own money taken by indigenous car manufacturers from their clients for a long period in the name of advance booking had been increased by Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 due to which an increase of 70,000 has been witnessed in the price of small cars,” the statement said.

The hike in local car prices  is directly affecting public in general and business community in particular.