KARACHI, Oct 22: The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has said that the two-wheeler industry will approach superior courts if a level playing field is denied and import of semi-knocked down (SKD) kits on concessionary rates are allowed.

In a statement issued on Monday, PAMA Director General Abdul Waheed Khan said that the Board of Investment (BoI) is pushing a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for Tuesday’s meeting to include SKD under import tariff regime at duty rates that may match those levied on completely knocked down (CKD) kits for the present manufacturers.

“The industry is going to approach court if undue favours are granted or any drastic change is undertaken at the behest of a new entrant as already around 100 bike makers are manufacturing quality motorcycles on existing tariff,” he said. This move of BoI is in line with its previous pursuit of getting something approved for a Japanese bike maker for which it was trying to get concession approved in New Entrant Policy, he alleged.

“This issue was not even on the agenda of ECC, circulated earlier on Monday. The committee has many times in the past rejected the proposals of the investment board regarding tariff adjustments,” Waheed said.

He alleged that the BoI is quite determined in pursuance of its agenda of destroying local industry to benefit few in the guise of fetching foreign investment, adding that the ulterior motives of the board are evident from its deliberate push of inclusion of a non-issue in the tariff regimes meant for CKD and CBU.

The ECC, he said, after consultation with the local auto industry agreed on bringing down CKD duty from 15 to 10 per cent and CBU duty from 65 to 50 per cent. The tariff for localised parts if imported was agreed to be 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, PAPAAM chairman Munir K Bana also shared PAMA’s concern.