Pakistan Adds 45 UN-Aligned Vehicle Safety Standards Under New Auto Policy

Pakistan's new automobile policy will include 45 additional vehicle safety standards modeled on the United Nations' WP.29 code, a move aimed at bringing both locally manufactured and used vehicles in line with international safety requirements, a senior government adviser said.

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan announced the measures at a press conference in Islamabad, alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Akhtar said the government had incorporated the 45 extra standards as part of the policy's safety framework.

Once vehicles are tested against these codes, he said, they would be regarded among the safest in the world, whether newly built or previously used. The safety provisions form one of six main pillars of the new policy.

The other pillars focus on making vehicles more affordable for buyers, promoting exports, increasing localization of parts and production, encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, and ensuring transparency in the sector.

The WP.29 framework refers to a set of international regulations on vehicle safety and related technical requirements, and alignment with it is generally seen as a step toward meeting global manufacturing norms.

The announcement signals the government's intent to tie consumer safety to the broader restructuring of Pakistan's auto industry, though the practical impact will depend on how the standards are implemented and enforced for domestic production and imported used vehicles.