A dramatic increase in the import of used vehicles and SUVs following the removal of regulatory duty and additional customs duty under SROs 1571 and 1572 is having a detrimental effect on the local auto industry, which is already facing several challenges.
Sounding the alarm, Abdul Waheed Khan, Director General of the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), stated:
“With the withdrawal of SROs 1571/22 and 1572/22, the regulatory duty and additional customs duty levied on used vehicles have been eliminated. This has placed locally produced vehicles at a significant competitive disadvantage, as revised higher taxation has not been reinstated.”
Khan pointed out that SRO 577/2005, which prescribes duties and taxes on used vehicles, was last amended nearly a decade ago in 2014 and 2015. This has resulted in lower duty calculations when combined with the existing 60% depreciation allowance. While the government’s stance has traditionally been to ban the import of used vehicles, Khan lamented, “It is the circumvention of this policy, with impunity, that has enabled traders to illegally purchase vehicles overseas for bulk imports under the guise of provisions for overseas Pakistanis.”
The numbers make for startling reading. During the recent months, a staggering 5,139 used SUVs were imported – nearly 8 times higher than the 669 units imported during the same period last year. The small-pickup and minivan category also saw a dramatic spike, with 5,099 units imported compared to just 1,025 units the previous year.
Related: Auto Industry Set to Witness the Biggest Decline in Market History
Most alarmingly, during the current financial year, a total of 25,098 used vehicles have made their way into the country – a jaw-dropping 641% increase compared to the 3,386 units imported the previous year. February 2024 alone witnessed the import of 3,213 used vehicles, in stark contrast to the 396 units imported in February 2023.
The repercussions of this influx extend far beyond market dynamics. Local auto manufacturers (read assemblers), who have invested heavily in capacity enhancement and developing local vendor industries, now find themselves at a significant disadvantage. The unfair competition posed by the abundance of imported used cars not only undermines their efforts but also threatens the livelihoods of countless workers employed directly and indirectly in this sector. Khan stressed:
“The traders facilitating these imports often evade taxes, resulting in a loss of revenue for the government. In contrast, the auto industry brings in foreign investment, facilitates technology transfer, creates jobs, and contributes significantly to the country’s economic growth.”
Source: Business Recorder
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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