KARACHI: Auto assemblers have been struggling to lay their hands on a copy of the new auto policy (2026-2031) announced last week.

Raziur Rehman, who heads the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (Pama), said he had requested the Ministry of Industries to share the document with the association, but was unable to get hold of the document.

“I think they will make it public after all approvals are in place. I can’t understand why there is a sense of insecurity at the highest level of government,” he said while talking to Dawn on Thursday.

The ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding the auto policy continues to haunt the industry. Inventories have been piling up and customers are reluctant to make a purchase decision.

“Pama has repeatedly expressed its concerns to policymakers. Officers may be well-intentioned, but this unusual delay is harming the industry, perhaps beyond repair,” Mr Razi said.

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The industries ministry and the Engineering Development Board (EDB) last consulted the industry in June and since then the draft policy went through drastic changes, he observed.

Import of used cars

As the import of used cars is on the rise despite restrictions, the industry faces yet another irritant in the shape of mandatory export requirements.

The prohibitively high cost of production discourages exports, but the government doesn’t realise this, the office-bearer said. Furthermore, he added, the law and order situation does not allow buyers to visit the country. “The fact that Pakistan has no free trade agreement with any major vehicle importer is also a major impediment to exports.”

Auto sales

Despite all odds, sales of cars, LCVs, pickups and SUVs clocked in at 24,418 units last month, up by 41 per cent year-on-year (YoY) and 62pc month-on-month (MoM), bringing the cumulative sales for the first four months of FY27 to 74,898 units.

Atlas Honda Limited once again recorded an all-time high sales of 173,152 motorcycles last month despite the growing popularity of electric bikes.

Sania Irfan of Topline Securities said sales of the Indus Motor Company declined 10pc YoY and 2pc MoM to 4,073 units in October, but surged 20pc YoY in 4MFY27 to 17,333 units.

Honda Atlas Cars recorded a 19pc rise YoY and one per cent decline MoM in sales to 2,101 units in October. The company sold 9,502 units in July-October FY27, up by 27pc YoY, she said.

Pakistan Suzuki Motor Company reported sales of 15,921 units, up 115pc YoY and 227pc MoM. Led by record high sales of Suzuki Swift and Alto 660cc, the assembler sold 38,536 units in 4MFY27, up by 41pc YoY.

Hyundai Nishat Motors recorded an 11pc YoY and 36pc MoM increase in sales to 1,202 units, driven by the recently launched Palisade, which contributed 379 units during October.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2026