Government allows imports of five-year-old vehicles
After a period of over four years, the government has once again allowed the import of five-year-old vehicles – a move that is likely to reduce the spiralling prices of automobiles in the domestic market.
The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the summery thereby increasing the period from three years to five years for the import of used vehicles.
This would generate competition for the local automobile manufacturers who are believed to be resisting the move on grounds that it would hurt their businesses.
Last month, the government had issued a notification, allowing the import of up to five-year-old cars, but it was withdrawn after 20 days. Many believed that the move was meant to benefit some influential figures.
Experts believe the prices of new and second-hand vehicles will come down after Wednesday’s decision of the cabinet. Briefing the media on the meeting, Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said the cabinet also ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
The protocol would enable the government to fulfill its national and international obligations regarding children’s rights. The United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) have been urging their member states to ratify the protocol. The cabinet also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The cabinet took stock of the status of implementation of its decisions pertaining to the ministries of information technology, law, overseas Pakistanis and petroleum and narcotics control division.
The cabinet was informed that around 95 per cent of the decisions were implemented, while the pending ones are subject to further negotiations between the stakeholders.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has directed that a timeline be decided upon for the completion of consultation with the stakeholders, so that the decisions could be implemented at the earliest.
The cabinet constituted a new committee, to be headed by the minister for interior, on the pending item related to the ministry of overseas Pakistanis regarding the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE government.
Kaira said the cabinet approved in principle to start negotiations with the Korean government on a MoU on cooperation for environmental protection.
The minister told the media that the cabinet also approved the start of negotiations for an agreement on an extradition treaty with Ukraine. Pakistan’s ambassador in Kiev has said that a number of Pakistani human traffickers operating in Ukraine have looted thousands of their compatriots in connivance with local authorities.
The cabinet also approved the initiation of talks with the Republic of Senegal for an agreement on avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. This is aimed to facilitate international trade and investment by removing tax obstacles, Kaira said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2011.
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