Islamabad: The federal government has announced an ambitious auto policy aimed at promoting low-cost and electric vehicles, as part of its broader strategy to enhance local vehicle manufacturing and exports. The policy, unveiled in Islamabad by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, and Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, outlines key measures to reduce import duties and boost vehicle exports.

According to Radio Pakistan, the policy is structured around six main pillars: the production of low-cost vehicles for middle and lower-middle-class consumers, bolstering exports, promoting electric vehicles (EVs), advancing exports localization, enhancing vehicle safety, and ensuring transparency. A notable feature of the policy is the reduction of import duties to lower vehicle manufacturing costs, aiming to make locally manufactured vehicles more affordable for low-income individuals.

The policy also sets a target of achieving six billion dollars in auto exports over the next five years. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar emphasized that the policy was developed through consultations with stakeholders, analysis of technical data, and comparison with international models. He highlighted the growing popularity of electric scooters among women and girls as a rationale for the policy’s focus on electric vehicles, which is also expected to decrease the national oil import bill.

The new auto policy is described as a comprehensive initiative, offering special incentives for EVs and emphasizing the importance of local manufacturing and job creation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underscored the need to create facilities for the middle class within the auto sector, aligning with the policy’s objectives to promote affordable, quality, and environmentally friendly vehicles for the general populace.