Islamabad:
In an important development, the federal office approved the first law of Pakistan on Wednesday to ensure minimum security in the cars assembled and imported locally, offering up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to 10 million rupees for offenders.
The law on the development of the motor vehicle industry was first authorized by the Committee of the Cabinet on Legislative Affairs (CCLC), then ratified by the Federal Cabinet. A member of the firm said that the law aims to apply minimum safety, quality, performance and environmental standards for all vehicles manufactured or imported in Pakistan. It will be the first legislation forcing vehicle assemblers and all commercial importers to comply with minimum security standards. Pakistan has so far implemented only 17 of the 163 standards of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNEC) from 1958.
Despite the long -standing complaints of consumers and parliamentarians concerning the poor quality of locally assembled cars, it is the first time that the Ministry of Industries and Production has recommended minimum legal safety standards for the protection of vehicle users.
With the approval of the guaranteed firm, the bill will now be placed before the permanent parliamentary committees for examination. These committees can modify any clause before the bill is tabled to vote in the two chambers of Parliament.
The proposed law will apply to all motor vehicles in Pakistan, with the exception of those manufactured or adapted for use by the armed forces.
Offenders, including manufacturers, assemblers or importers, could incur prison conditions from six months to three years and fines between 500,000 RS and 10 million rupees, according to the bill.
During the CCLC discussions, some members opposed prison conditions for offenders, but the Ministry of Industries kept its proposal, according to sources during the discussions.
Once promulgated, no one will be authorized to sell a vehicle without registering under the new law. Anyone who manufactures, imports or offering the sale a vehicle in violation of the law could incur up to a year in prison or a fine of at least 500,000 rupees, or both.
The non-removal of a certificate of conformity will result in a prison sentence of up to six months, or a fine of up to Rs500,000, or both.
Another clause indicates that anyone who does not recall a vehicle, part or a defective component could incur up to two years in prison or a fine of at least 5 million rupees, or both.
Not taking corrective measures when led by the Engineering Development Council (EDB) will result in a three -year minimum prison sentence or a fine of 10 million rupees, or both.
A condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also requires that all the laws necessary to subject quantitative restrictions on the importation of used vehicles must be submitted by July 2025. This will initially apply to vehicles under five, subject to safety and environmental standards.
The Government now plans to implement the imports of five years of the state of vehicles from September and fully open imports next year, provided that minimum safety and environmental standards under the new legislation are in place. The bill offers a period of one year of the promulgation for importers and local assemblers to comply with the security requirements.
The law stipulates that no one should import vehicles, parts or motor components requiring repair and maintenance, unless it is a registered company, has an import of vehicles as the main activity, to meet a minimum capital paid by the government and to obtain an EDB license.
Imports under the luggage and gift patterns will be exempt, according to officials.
The bill also imposes all manufacturers and importers to ensure that their vehicles, components and parts do not have security risks for users or other.
No vehicle can be sold unless it displays key details such as height, length, weight, expected use, seats and loading capacity, the number of axles and other information that the EDB will deem necessary for the safety and convenience of users.
Likewise, electric vehicles must display information on the type of battery, performance, sustainability, recycling instructions and out -of -plan load standards.
All vehicles, components and parts must be delivered with a certificate of conformity before being sold.
Manufacturers and importers will also be required to recall any vehicle or part which presents a significant security risk, whether or not he meets the type or relevant standard approval.
Failure to comply with a voluntary recall could lead to a fine of 5 million rupees and up to two years’ imprisonment.
If the EDB finds a security risk and the manufacturer or the importer does not act, the authority can order a reminder. If this order is ignored, the board of directors can remember the vehicle or separate itself through a surveillance agency or other means.
