In a major breakthrough for South Asian trade, Pakistan and Bangladesh have officially finalized a historic automobile export agreement. Under the strategic roadmap, Pakistan aims to export 5,000 locally assembled vehicles to Bangladesh by 2029.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar, announced the milestone during a media briefing in Islamabad. He described the pact as a monumental advancement for Pakistan’s auto industry, marking the first time domestic vehicles will be exported at such a commercial scale.
Haroon Akhtar emphasized that the government is steering Pakistan toward becoming a global manufacturing hub, supported significantly by Chinese foreign direct investment. Key highlights from his briefing include:
- Localization Milestones: Over 95% of mobile phones currently used in Pakistan are assembled locally, while solar panel production is being initiated to curb imports.
- Electric Vehicle Push: The government has issued 86 manufacturing licenses for two-wheeled electric bikes, along with signing more than 150 MoUs for domestic battery manufacturing.
Adding to the industry perspective, Romo Rouf Chowdhury, Managing Director of Rancon Auto, noted strong market demand for electric motorcycles in Bangladesh and welcomed the joint commercial export initiative. Meanwhile, MG Pakistan CEO Jiang Qiangxiang highlighted that structured protective policies are essential for national auto sectors to thrive globally.
