Pakistan approves first-ever car safety law with strict penalties

Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved the country’s first law setting minimum safety standards for all locally assembled and imported vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Industry Development Act.

According to the draft law, violators may face jail terms of up to three years and fines reaching Rs10 million. The law sets clear rules for vehicle safety, performance, quality, and environmental standards. No vehicle will be allowed for sale without proper registration and a certificate of conformity. Manufacturers and importers who break the rules may face up to one year in jail or fines starting from Rs500000. Not providing a certificate may lead to six months’ imprisonment. If a company fails to recall defective vehicles, it can face two years in jail or a fine of at least Rs5 million.

If any company ignores a recall order issued by the Engineering Development Board (EDB), it will face the maximum punishment of three years in prison or a Rs10 million fine. Only licensed companies with approved capital and proper business registration will be allowed to import vehicles needing repairs. However, vehicles imported under gift or baggage schemes will not fall under these rules.

Every vehicle must display full technical details including weight, size, seating capacity, and usage information. Electric vehicles must also include battery type, performance, recycling, and charging standards.