Ministry rejects allegations, cites documentary evidence

June 18, 2026 (MLN): The Ministry of Industries and Production and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan pushed back against allegations raised by Senator Faisal Vawda in a Senate Standing Committee meeting, countering each charge with documentary evidence while noting that Vawda failed to produce any supporting proof for his claims.

Addressing the committee, Haroon Akhtar Khan and the Ministry Secretary asserted that all ministerial decisions were taken strictly within the framework of the Rules of Business, following mandatory consultation with relevant stakeholders and prior approval from the Federal Cabinet, with full adherence to legal and institutional procedures.

On the regulatory front, the SAPM recalled that following Pakistan's accession to the United Nations WP.29 agreement in 2020, the mandate for formulating vehicle safety standards and related regulations was formally entrusted to the Ministry of Industries and Production, according to the press release.

He noted that the Motor Vehicle Development Bill already tabled in the National Assembly and cleared by the relevant NA Standing Committee would, upon enactment, transfer implementation authority over vehicle safety regulations to the Engineering Development Board (EDB).

The Ministry of Commerce had separately directed the EDB in September 2025 to enforce quality and safety standards for both new and used vehicle imports.

Haroon Akhtar Khan also drew the committee's attention to longstanding misuse of vehicle import schemes, including the Transfer of Residence, Gift, and Personal Baggage schemes, stating that new conditions had since been introduced to plug compliance gaps, restricting imports under the Gift and Transfer of Residence schemes to specified requirements only.

Stressing the public interest dimension of the Ministry's regulatory drive, the SAPM noted that road accidents claim around 25,000 lives in Pakistan each year, making robust vehicle safety standards a matter of urgent national priority.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transparent, rules-based policymaking developed in close coordination with all stakeholders.

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