The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association has sought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s guidance for an independent review of tariff calculations under the National Tariff Policy (NTP), citing concerns over the accuracy and international comparability of the data.
In a letter to Haroon Akhtar Khan, the PM’s adviser on industries and production, PAMA Director General Razi ur Rahman urged him to bring the matter to the premier’s attention and seek guidance on reviewing the policy’s simple and trade-weighted average tariff calculations, underlying data and methodology.
PAMA has called for the figures to be reconciled with relevant World Trade Organization (WTO) statistics through a transparent, like-for-like comparison based on consistent reference periods, tariff coverage, weighting methods and clearly defined assumptions.
The association has also requested that further tariff adjustments significantly dependent on the disputed baseline be deferred until the review is completed and its findings examined.
Razi said tariff decisions based on inaccurate assessments could undermine domestic manufacturing, discourage investment, weaken local supply chains and adversely affect employment and export potential, running counter to the government’s industrialisation objectives.
He reiterated PAMA’s support for the government’s efforts to rationalise tariffs, enhance export competitiveness and develop a more efficient and competitive economy. However, he stressed that the effectiveness of these reforms depended on the reliability and comparability of the underlying data.
According to PAMA, average tariff figures can vary considerably depending on the datasets and methodologies used. Differences in tariff-line coverage, reference periods, import weights, exemptions, preferential rates and the treatment of specific duties can significantly influence the reported averages.
The association maintained that Pakistan’s tariff indicators must be compared with WTO statistics on a consistent basis to avoid misleading conclusions about the country’s actual tariff structure.
“Our concern is not with tariff reform itself but with the possibility of far-reaching policy decisions being made on the basis of an inadequately verified baseline,” Razi said, adding that an independent assessment would establish whether the NTP figures were methodologically sound and internationally comparable.
He highlighted the importance of accurate tariff data for the automotive sector, which supports a substantial domestic vendor network and requires long-term investment, localisation and predictable policies.
Razi described the proposed review as a safeguard that would reinforce the credibility of the NTP, reduce the risk of unintended economic consequences and ensure that future tariff decisions were grounded in reliable evidence.
He urged the government to address the concerns before implementing further tariff adjustments.
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