ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Jam Kamal said on Tuesday that the post-budget issues faced by local part manufacturers would be resolved to promote ‘Made-in-Pakistan’ products.

The minister extended this assurance during a meeting with the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) and representatives of mobile phone manufacturers.

An official announcement issued after the meeting said that Paapam chairman Abdul Rehman Aziz called for the imposition of regulatory duty (RD) on all old and used vehicles. He explained that 70pc of used car imports below 1,300cc are exempt from the newly imposed RD in the Finance Bill 2024.

The budget for 2024-25 introduced a 15 per cent RD on imported used cars exceeding 1,300cc, a move requested by local assemblers. However, this RD failed to address its core issue, as it exempted small vehicles, which are imported in large numbers, posing a significant challenge to the local assemblers.

The representatives of mobile manufacturers, led by Aamir Allawala, made a strong plea for a ban on the import of old mobile phones. This, they argued, is crucial to support the local industry and promote the ‘Made in Pakistan’ initiative.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2024