LAHORE: Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan’s automotive industry plays a role far wider than the manufacturing of vehicles, as it contributes to employment generation, engineering capacity, technology transfer, localisation and the development of domestic supplier networks.
He expressed these views while addressing the Pakistan International Auto Show Gala Dinner organised by the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) at a local hotel on Saturday.
Gilani said the event was an occasion to acknowledge achievement, enterprise and perseverance, and congratulated the award winners for their performance. He said their accomplishments reflected not only individual excellence but also the resilience, capability and innovative potential of Pakistan’s automotive and engineering sector.
He said the components, machinery and engineering solutions displayed at the show represented years of investment, technical learning and hard work by Pakistani entrepreneurs, engineers, technicians and workers.
“Industrialisation is often spoken of in theory. Here, it takes a clear shape,” he said, adding that the automotive sector required precision, consistency and long-term commitment, which deserved recognition.
The Senate chairman said companies associated with the sector had continued to work through difficult years, invested in localisation and shown confidence in Pakistan through their efforts and capital.
He noted that the industry was still facing challenges, including access to inputs, financing pressures, changing market conditions and the need for greater policy predictability. These issues, he said, required constructive and sustained engagement among industry, government and Parliament.
Gilani said growth of the sector was closely linked with the overall strength of the country’s manufacturing economy.
“As Chairman of the Senate, I believe Parliament has an important role in providing a platform for dialogue, understanding the concerns and perspectives of productive sectors, and contributing through its legislative and oversight functions to achieving an environment conducive to sustainable economic activity,” he said.
Referring to Pakistan’s geographical position, he said the country was located at the crossroads of Central Asia, the Gulf and Africa. He added that an industry capable of meeting international standards had every reason to look outward with confidence and move beyond reliance on the domestic market by exploring international opportunities.
Gilani also underlined the importance of investing in people, saying engineers, technicians and graduates who chose to build their careers in Pakistan were the real capital of the sector.
He said the Pakistan International Auto Show was a source of inspiration and demonstrated what Pakistani enterprise had achieved through innovation, investment and technical expertise.
“May this evening inspire greater ambition, partnerships and renewed confidence in Pakistan’s industrial potential,” he said.
Earlier, PAAPAM Chairman Usman Aslam Malik and organiser Syed Nabeel Hashmi also addressed the gathering.
Later, the Senate chairman distributed awards among the achievers.
