LAHORE: A large number of people thronged the three-day Pakistan International Auto Show-2026 that concluded here at the Lahore Expo Centre on Sunday.
“It is a wonderful show that has brought a number of local and international manufacturers, displaying the latest models of vehicles, including SUVs, cars, tractors, bikes etc, along with spare part vendors and other allied industries, under one roof,” a visitor told Dawn at the show. “By visiting the show, I have come to know about the prices of vehicles, enabling me to go for the best deal,” he adds.
The show, organised by the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers attracted thousands of visitors on its last day, bringing together leading automobile manufacturers, auto-parts producers, dealers, industry experts, government representatives and automobile enthusiasts.
“Since start of the show on September 18, we continue to see people frequently coming to us to ask prices of the vehicles on display. You can yourself see the crowd at our display centre,” says a car manufacturing company official. “Today is the last day and the number of visitors is more than the last two days,” he adds.
On September 18, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had inaugurated the three-day exhibition. Several manufacturers established dedicated stalls, some of them using PAPS 2026 to introduce new models, while others showcased the vehicles launched shortly before the event.
Among the major attractions, were new models unveiled by BYD, Chery, JAC and Suzuki, which received considerable attention from visitors and automotive enthusiasts.
Senior officials from Punjab and federal governments also visited the exhibition, including Punjab Minister Bilal Yasin, federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Haroon Akhtar Khan.
The show’s Gala Dinner was also attended by Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, bringing together government officials, business leaders, diplomats, automobile manufacturers and industry representatives.
An automotive industry symposium also held during the show provided a platform to discuss the latest technologies, innovations, localisation, manufacturing capabilities and emerging trends in the automobile industry. At the symposium, key industry players shared their views on technological advancements and the future growth of Pakistan’s automotive sector.
“The strong public response demonstrated the importance of the automotive and auto-parts sector and highlighted the opportunities available for the industry’s growth, investment and technological development,” saysPAPAAM Chairman Usman Aslam in a statement.
Nabeel Hashmi, the chief organiser of PAPS 2026, in his statement, emphasised the importance of localisation, saying that it is an important pillar of any automotive industry in any country. “Pakistan needs to ensure this for job creation and technology upgrade of industrial landscape.” The event also provided a platform to local manufacturers, international brands and industry stakeholders to showcase their capabilities.
Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026
