OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE - Engineering Development Board (EDB) Chief Executive Officer Aitzaz Niazi has said that the local auto industry is flourishing, as auto parts exports have reached $80 million in 2011 and it has the potential to double within years. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day Pakistan Auto Show 2011, he said the exhibition would prove to be a milestone for the local auto industry. The three-day mega was started on Monday at the Expo Centre, where international and national manufacturers and part-makers were taking part with their stalls in two-major halls of the event place. Opening ceremony held at the Convention Centre, where Engineering Development Board (EDB) Chief Executive Officer Aitzaz Niazi, Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Chairman Syed Nabeel Hashmi and Vice Chairman Munir K Bana addressed the gathering. Addressing as the chief guest, Mr Aitzaz Niazi congratulated PAAPAM management for holding such a wonderful display of products and capabilities to the world. He said that the auto vendor industry is continuously embracing the latest technologies to meet requirements and ever increasing global challenges. He pointed out that a lot has to be done on quality and standardization front. He said the Engineering Development Board would continue its support and look after needs of the growing auto industry. He said that the auto sector has reached at a stage where it can launch a national car. The EDB chief executive officer advised the auto industry to vigorously explore global markets not only to enhance businesses but also to meet challenges at domestic level. In 2005, the EDB launched an ambitious market expansion programme for the engineering sector and achieved remarkable success in terms of export development and exposure of over 150 companies to the global sourcing chain, he informed the gathering. Addressing the opening ceremony, Syed Nabeel Hashmi said that Pakistan has a vibrant auto industry that plays host to major global original equipment manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Massey Ferguson who have made Pakistan their home. Today, Pakistan manufactures tractors, cars, motorcycles and heavy vehicles that were playing a vital role in the economic development of the country. He said that PAAPAM members have made to achieve local manufacturing content of 70 percent in case of passenger and light commercial vehicles, 90 percent of motorcycles and tractors and 45 percent of heavy commercial vehicles. The auto industry encompasses technologies that include plastics, steel, forgings and castings, electronics, textile, rubber, oils and lubricants, design engineering, services and the list goes on. Nabeel Hashmi informed the gathering that Pakistan is one of the most competitive global manufacturers of tractors and 2-wheelers that have now geared up into the export markets. In case of passenger vehicles, domestic products are highly competitive in comparison with neighbours. Due to high level of localisation, the technology acquisition and long term investments done by the PAAPAM members, he said. We have good export potentials but our incentives and international exposure support is extremely weak, he said, and asked the EDB to restart the Export Development Wing and give it full funds to enhance the engineering exports. He termed PAAPAM as engineering face of Pakistan and said that the association, with a membership of over 340 organisations, engaged over 0.2 million individuals directly who in turn support over 1.5 million citizens of Pakistan. He said that participants and representatives from Japan, Germany, UAE, Italy, Holland, Sri Lanka, China and Australia are here to attend the auto show. While the product range includes completely built up vehicles including cars, trucks, buses, tractors, motorcycles and auto components range in thousands. During the auto show, there will have seven seminar sessions with subjects including the automotive industry, management and export promotions. Nabeel Hashmi also said that the mega auto show will have a positive impact on the industry, which is growing day by day. He said that foreign and domestic manufacturers and part makers of cars, motorcycles and tractors are exhibiting their products in the Pakistan Auto Show