The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has sought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s guidance for an independent review of the tariff data and methodology underpinning the National Tariff Policy (NTP), warning that inaccurate figures could harm domestic manufacturing and investment.
In a letter to Haroon Akhtar Khan, the prime minister’s adviser on industries and production, PAMA Director General Razi ur Rahman requested that the matter be placed before the prime minister for guidance.
PAMA called for an independent technical review of the simple and trade-weighted average tariff calculations used in the NTP, including the underlying data and methodology and reconciliation with relevant World Trade Organization (WTO) figures.
The association also sought a transparent, like for like comparison using consistent reference periods, tariff coverage, weighting methods and clearly stated assumptions. It urged the government to defer further tariff adjustments that materially depend on the disputed baseline until the review is completed and its findings considered.
Rahman said PAMA supported the government’s objectives of rationalizing tariffs, improving export competitiveness and promoting an efficient, competitive economy. However, he stressed that the success of these reforms depended on the accuracy and comparability of the underlying data.
He said simple and trade weighted average tariffs could differ significantly depending on the datasets, methodology and assumptions used. Differences in tariff line coverage, reference periods, import weights, exemptions, preferential rates and the treatment of specific duties could materially affect the results.
According to Rahman, Pakistan’s reported tariff indicators should therefore be compared with WTO statistics on a strictly like-for-like basis. Without reconciling these factors, headline percentages could give a misleading picture of the country’s actual tariff position.
PAMA warned that tariff adjustments based on an inaccurate assessment could undermine domestic manufacturing, discourage investment, weaken local supply chains and hurt employment and export potential, running counter to the government’s broader industrialization objectives.
Rahman said the issue was particularly important for the automotive industry, which supports a substantial domestic vendor base and requires long-term investment, localization and predictable policies.
He added that an independent review would help establish whether the figures used in the NTP were methodologically sound and internationally comparable, providing a more reliable basis for future decisions.
PAMA described the proposed review as a safeguard that would strengthen the credibility of the tariff policy, reduce the risk of unintended economic consequences and ensure that future decisions were based on reliable evidence.
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