According to the Federal Minister for Science and Information Technology Fawad Chaudhry, the government of Pakistan has finalized seven new vehicle safety standard rules.
According to his official statement, “The ministry has informed the car manufacturers to ensure these standards in new cars.”
According to documents available, Pakistan has ratified the United Nations treaty on “Adoption of Harmonized Technical Nations Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted based on these UN Regulations, adopted at Geneva on 20 March 1958” reports Profit.
Moreover, the minister, in an interview, shared the new standards that had been set by the government.
These standards were revised after the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) denied its role in inspecting the quality and safety features in local cars in January 2020.
New Vehicle Safety Standards
In an interview, the minister shared that the new standards included that the airbags equipped in each vehicle be of high-standard. He added that the brakes should also be of acceptable quality as well as the windscreens.
The companies have to ensure high-quality headlights for a better drive in the night and wipers for a safe drive in the rain, -Minister Fawad Chaudhry
When asked if these new changes will impact the price of the vehicle, Chaudhry shared that the local manufacturers in Pakistan will have to install all the quality parts within the car, given the current rates.
The companies are already charging for these features, but still launching the vehicles without them, -the minister added
Motors Dealers Association has lauded the ministry for their step to improve vehicle standards and safety.
The cars in Pakistan have very high prices comparing to the international market but have zero safety features. The government must implement these standards now because, the local cars have no safety features, – Motors Dealers Association
Moreover, it is essential to highlight here that Pakistan has no regulatory body that is required to monitor the safety standards of the locally produced units.
When MoIP denied their role in inspecting the vehicles, it also added that the Engineering Development Board (EDB) is also not responsible as its not its relevant department. The ministry further clarified that the EDB can only verify certain aspects. They include:
- Assembling/manufacturing of auto parts under the SRO 655(1)/2006
- Assembling/manufacturing of vehicles under the SRO 656(1)/2006
Furthermore, EDB is only responsible for verifying the imported completely knocked down (CKD) units under the SRO.
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