Press Release Title: Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, presiding over a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production at Parliament House Islamabad

Press Release Date: 3rd November, 2026

The Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production convened at Parliament House today under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandwiwalla, with proceedings attended by Senators Khalida Ateeb, Husna Bano, and Anusha Rahman, who participated as the mover of the question. The meeting comprehensively addressed national industrial policy, electric vehicle production, and administrative security measures at Pakistan Steel Mills.   Deliberating on the sub-committee's compliance report regarding Pakistan Steel Mills, Senator Khalida Ateeb highlighted that previous sub-committee meetings held on September 7 and 22, 2026, had generated eleven specific recommendations to address theft, operational vulnerabilities, and administrative concerns at the plant. The committee reviewed the compliance status, noting that following the withdrawal of Defence Security Force personnel, Pakistan Steel Mills initiated a formal tendering process to hire a private security firm for 120 security guards to safeguard PSM land, plant, machinery, and stores after a proposal for an integral security force was not approved by the Ministry of Industries and Production. The tender, advertised on September 29, 2026, and opened on October 19, 2026, is currently in its final evaluation stage. Addressing broader governance issues, the committee noted that criminal cases are being pursued against individuals involved in theft, while directing that comprehensive implementation reports on all eleven sub-committee directives be presented at the next meeting.   In its review of the electric vehicle sector, the committee was briefed that Pakistan is advancing under the National EV Policy 2020 and the Auto Industry Development and Export Policy 2021 through 2026, targeting thirty percent EV penetration by 2030 across two-wheelers, three-wheelers, cars, and buses. Over two hundred ninety thousand electric bikes have been manufactured locally, supported by more than eighty-five licensed local assemblers. The tariff framework includes custom duties of 15% for non-localized completely knocked down kits, 46% for localized kits, and one percent for specific EV components. Specific incentives include a one percent custom duty on key EV components such as batteries, motors, converters, and chargers until June 30, 2027, alongside a one percent sales tax on locally assembled two- and three-wheelers and a sales tax waiver on imported two- and three-wheeler EVs. Annual EV production figures demonstrate significant expansion, rising from 7,345 units in 2021-22 to 210,268 units in 2025-26.   Emphasizing future human capital development, Senator Anusha Rahman called for regulatory authorities to play an active role in policy formulation, suggesting that Pakistan adopt international practices such as China's integration of vocational training centers with EV manufacturing units. The committee stressed that industrial regulators must require manufacturers to establish proper training infrastructure and update curricula with organizations like NAVTTC before commercial licensing. Concluding the meeting, the committee recommended sending an Auto Industry Development and Export Policy team to inspect vocational training facilities in China and suggested incorporating local industrial input into policy adjustments to drive sustainable technology transfer and domestic manufacturing. Committee was told that auto policy yet to be finalized as it would be sent to Ministry of Finance draft would be shared with IMF, Committee expressed concerns over delay in the approval of auto policy as automobile is facing challenges due to delay in its approval.   The Committee was attended by Add. Secretary M/o industries and production, CEO. EDB, CEO. PSM along with their senior team members.