Gilani says automotive industry contributes beyond vehicle production

Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani told an audience in Lahore that a robust automotive sector creates value well beyond the making of cars and vehicles. Speaking at the Pakistan International Auto Show Gala Dinner, hosted on Saturday by the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers, he pointed to jobs, engineering skills, technology transfer, localisation and a broad base of domestic suppliers as its wider contributions.

Gilani praised the exactness, steadiness and long-term outlook the industry needs, saying such qualities deserved recognition. He acknowledged ongoing difficulties, among them limited access to inputs, financing pressure, shifting market conditions and the need for more predictable policy. He called for constructive, sustained dialogue between industry, government and Parliament on these issues.

Growth in the sector, he argued, is tied to the wider strength of Pakistan's manufacturing base. He also noted the country's location at the meeting point of Central Asia, the Gulf and Africa, and said firms that meet international standards should look abroad with confidence rather than depend only on the home market. Investment in engineers, technicians and graduates, he concluded, is central to the industry's future.