Zubair Qureshi
Islamabad
High Commissioner of Malaysia, Ikram Bin Mohammed Ibrahim on Monday handed over Malaysia’s top-rated vehicle Proton X70, a gift sent by Malaysia’s Prime Dr Mahathir Mohamad for Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The Malaysian premiere during his visit to Pakistan in March this year had promised the Malaysia’s most trusted and prized vehicle for Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The handing over ceremony took place at the Malaysian High Commission and Adviser to PM for Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production and Investment Abdul Razaq Dawood received it from the envoy. A Proton joint venture was also signed during visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Speaking on the occasion, the Malaysian High Commissioner expressed commitment to boost trade in both countries, saying the Proton car is a gift from one brother to another.
Speaking on the potential for improved business ties between the two countries Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim said “High Commission of Malaysia is supportive of the efforts between Proton and Al-Haj Automotive to sell and then assemble Proton vehicles in Pakistan.
Such commercial activities will contribute towards fostering closer and stronger economic ties between the two brotherly countries, he said adding, Malaysia looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Imran Khan in Kuala Lumpur for the 2019 KL Summit later this week.”
While thanking the friendly gesture of Malaysian leadership, Abdul Razzaq Dawood said Pakistan supported Malaysia’s global role and was optimistic to witness increase trade volume between the two countries.
Back in March, a series of business agreements and MoUs were signed between Malaysia’s Proton Motors and Pakistan’s Al-Haj, under which the company will begin producing Proton cars in Pakistan from June next year.
It is estimated the company would make investment of worth $800-900 million in Pakistan through its assembly plant. The Proton plant, near Karachi, is the latest in a series of deals set up in Pakistan by international auto makers including Volkswagen AG and Hyundai Motors.
The new CKD assembly plant will be set up with an initial investment of US$30 million and will create 2,000 direct employment opportunities in its first three years of operations. It is estimated that a further 20,000 indirect jobs will also be created as a result of the new plant being commissioned.
Al-Haj group representative Al-Haj Shah Jee Gul Afridi while appreciating the Malaysian government’s decision to introduce its technology in automotive sector in Pakistan said, “Al-Haj Automotive will leverage on its current dealerships located nationwide to start selling Proton vehicles as soon as possible while developing standalone 3S/4S outlets.”
We will source CBU units from Malaysia to kick things off in Pakistan before switching to locally assembled units once the new assembly plant begins operations,” he said.
