KARACHI: Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association urged the government to make trade agreements cautiously with Sri Lanka as it gives market access to neighbouring country India that will dump its subsidised products in Pakistan.
Ministry DG Waheed Khan gave this point that Lankan FTA, in January 2008; negotiators admitted that Sri Lanka does not have capability of exporting different auto parts. He asserted that during 2008 meeting, the concerns of Pakistani auto sector were recorded in the minutes.
However, it looks the expected potential investment into Sri Lanka is now materialised and most likely source of this investment is India. “This is a big anxiety for the auto industry and should be equally alarming for MoC. A blunder that that was made at the time of first negotiation of PSFTA with Sri Lanka must not be permitted to destabilise now a thriving Pakistan’s vending Industry,” said the DG in the letter.