The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed grave concern on the news regarding closure of Engineering Development Board (EDB) and termed it a bad proposal. LCCI Acting President Amjad Ali Jawa in a statement on Friday asked the government to shelve the idea for the sake of engineering sector of Pakistan. Reportedly this decision has been taken without taking the stakeholders on board, he said, adding the Engineering Development Board is playing a fundamental role in promotion of engineering sector.

"EDB was established to oversee multiple areas related to the engineering sector. An important area where EDB has contributed the most is the automobile sector. It oversees the implementation of the Auto policy, based on predefined policy document guidelines. It supports the vendor industry by handling various SRO's, by assuring local content enhancement and curtailment of rollback, based on the government's policy guidelines," he added.

He said closure and shifting the responsibility of EDB would derail the engineering industry, especially the auto sector would lead to inefficiency in the government, and lack of expertise would further complicate the situation, leading to stoppage of investments in auto industry, especially the vending sector. He said the proposal of disbandment of EDB should be taken back immediately as it would give a bad message to the foreign investors. To improve the Board's affairs, a professional chief executive officer should be appointed, based on capability to handle such an organization, he maintained. The closure of an institution is not a solution to the problems. The government, therefore, should take corrective to overcome the loopholes.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017