Pakistan shifts gears in car exports, with Japanese taking lead

Policy asks automakers to ship 10% of import value, but experts say it's too ambitious

Japanese automaker Honda Motor's subsidiary in Pakistan recently became the first company to start exporting vehicles made in the country, shipping 40 locally assembled cars to Japan. (Photo by Adnan Aamir)

ADNAN AAMIR

April 30, 2025 17:33 JST

ISLAMABAD -- Automakers in Pakistan have begun exploring exports of locally assembled cars, with Japanese brands taking the lead under a government policy drive aiming to turn the industry exportable.

However, experts and industry officials question the policy's effectiveness and point to a lack of an adequate mechanism in the policy structure.