In the absence of a domestic testing facility, MoST wants overseas type approval for vehicular safety. Auto Manufacturers do not seem to like the idea Pakistan’s domestic auto industry might soon face a safety reckoning, as the government looks to enforce international standards without the crucial infrastructure to do so at home. Without a local testing facility, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) is pushing for vehicles to be inspected overseas, a proposal that is rattling local automakers.
For years, consumers have driven vehicles that are not subject to third-party safety checks before or after assembly. While Pakistan’s auto sector has been churning out cars for decades, none of them fully comply with global safety standards. While some institutions are technically responsible for overseeing vehicle safety, they have been asleep at the wheel.
This neglect has persisted, despite Pakistan signing on to the WP.29 treaty in 2020—a global pact designed to harmonise vehicle regulations. Yet, since signing, local automakers and regulators alike have dragged their feet.
Manufacturers argue the country does not have the necessary testing facilities, while the government’s oversight body, the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), admits it is ill-equipped to enforce the rules. Still, the government is looking for a workaround. The WP.
29 treaty: a global benchmark Pakistan ratified the United Nations treaty on “Adoption of Harmonized Technical Nations Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these UN Regulations”, adopted at Geneva on 20 March 1958. The agreement finally entered into force for Pakistan on April 24, 2020 after enough signatory ratified it. The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.
29) is a unique worldwide regulatory forum within the institutional framework of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee. Three UN agreements, adopted in 1958, 1997 and 1998, provide the legal framework allowing contracting parties (member countries) to attend the WP.29 sessions to establish regulatory instruments concerning motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment.
Pakistan’s ratification of the WP.29 treaty, under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in April 2020 was supposed to be a game-changer. The agreement, signed by over 50 countries, sets rigorous standards for vehicle safety, emission control, and environmental protection.
But for Pakistan, the problem is that there’s no domestic facility to enforce these global standards. The Auto Development Policy (ADP) 2016-21 aimed to establish local testing facilities, but nothing materialised. Now, PSQCA is eyeing a new solution—having vehicles inspected overseas, and they’ve already sent out feelers to countries like China, the UK, and Japan for potential partnerships.
A long-awaited overhaul In a recent move, the PSQCA proposed sending locally assembled vehicles for testing abroad, a first for Pakistan. The plan, submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office, outlines a framework for testing vehicles in third-party facilities in foreign countries. But this idea has not gone down well with the local auto industry.
Industry insiders say automakers are poised to resist this shift, claiming it is not practical. Some argue it is an attempt by the government to delay enforcing safety standards altogether. Local car manufacturers, already unhappy about the costs, have been lobbying to delay the WP.
29 compliance for at least another year. The key sticking point? Many of the safety features mandated under WP.29—such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS), tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and daytime running lights (DRLs)—are not standard in most Pakistani cars.
Automakers, instead, market them as luxury features, adding a hefty price tag. Testing standards abroad To address the absence of local infrastructure, Pakistan is considering a Type Approval Scheme —a system where a new vehicle model is tested once before hitting the market, instead of requiring each individual unit to be tested. PSQCA is set to play a critical role in revising existing rules to accommodate this system.
Under this scheme, cars would be inspected overseas, with certification valid for the entire model’s production run. This would, in theory, reduce costs for manufacturers, but auto firms remain sceptical. They argue the logistics and expenses of sending vehicles abroad for testing would only push up prices further.
PSQCA, however, is pushing ahead. It is exploring Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with international testing bodies, which could lower costs and simplify the process for manufacturers. But local auto firms fear this could lead to more bureaucracy, higher fees, and delays in bringing new models to market.
Resistance from the industry Despite MoST’s outreach, automakers claim they have been left in the dark. The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has voiced concerns over the lack of consultation, and manufacturers worry they’re being handed a raw deal. One industry executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration: “The industry hasn’t been consulted properly.
We need our own testing facilities, like India has, to build a self-sustaining industry.” The executive pointed to India’s robust testing infrastructure, which has helped turn it into a global powerhouse for motorcycle and three-wheeler production. Without similar infrastructure, the executive warned, Pakistan’s auto sector will remain dependent on foreign economies and struggle to compete globally.
Another industry insider echoed these concerns, arguing that outsourcing testing to foreign laboratories would be a logistical nightmare. “Sending cars abroad for testing, paying fees, and covering manufacturing costs will push up prices for consumers,” the source said. Worse, without a recognised local certification system, Pakistani cars would still face export barriers.
The role of the Engineering Development Board (EDB) Meanwhile, the Engineering Development Board (EDB), a body under the Ministry of Industries, is backing the auto manufacturers. The EDB has reportedly tried to wrest control of vehicle safety inspections from PSQCA, advocating for a more industry-friendly approach. MoST officials, however, insist that PSQCA is the country’s designated authority on vehicle standards.
Critics claim the EDB’s interference is an attempt to shield automakers from the full force of international regulations. With the local auto industry already lagging behind global safety standards, many fear that Pakistan risks being left further behind in an increasingly competitive global market. The next few months could be pivotal for Pakistan’s auto industry.
If the government pushes through with its plan to enforce WP.29 standards via overseas testing, manufacturers will have to adapt—or resist. Either way, the days of lax safety oversight in the country may finally be numbered.
But whether the solution lies in costly overseas inspections or the development of a domestic testing facility, one thing is clear: the status quo is unsustainable. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.
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