LAHORE - The permission to import second-hand buses from India under the new Trade Policy 2008-09 would harm the local auto industry, said lftikhar Malik, CE Guard Group and former Chairman of Pakistan Automobile Spare Parts Importers and Dealers Association. According to press release issued on Wednesday, Malik who is also Former President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that had the deletion programme followed diligently Pakistan would have been not only self sufficient in case of Japanese vehicles but also exporting to other countries. This way Pakistan was made paradise for the automobile assemblers, which hardly passed on technology to Vendor Industry to produce deleted parts locally. Our Auto Vendor Industry has adequate in-house engineering facilities to produce such parts. The brilliant example of Massey Ferguson UK Tractors could be quoted as evidence. They have achieved deletion over 90 per cent. It means the technology exists in the country but auto assemblers are intentionally diverting to their principals for import of parts and avoiding the deletion program. Iftikhar Ali Malik further said that he was Chairman PASPIDA in 1978 and on the basis of his 30 years experience, he could exert with authority that Pakistan had remained heaven for import of vehicles due to leniency on the part of government, while in the same period a number of Asian countries acquired the technical know-how to manufacture complete vehicles with the help of Local Vendor Industry. Under various schemes almost junk was imported from outside against the scarce foreign exchange in the name providing employment. While commenting on import of CNG buses from India, Iftikhar Ali Malik said that only those assemblers should be selected who will give guarantee to invest in Pakistan, establish manufacturing plants, transfer the necessary know-how to Local Vendor Industry and also ensure buyback arrangements. It is important to mention here that visiting Japanese Study Group has called on the Finance Minister and ensured to invest in Pakistan in vital sectors like Auto-Power and Infrastructure.