Pakistan Makes Global Safety Standards Mandatory for All Vehicles

The Ministry of Industries and Production has, for the first time, enforced quality and safety standards for all vehicles in Pakistan, including imports and locally manufactured units, in a move aimed at improving road safety and environmental compliance.

According to notifications issued by the Engineering Development Board (EDB), all new and used imported vehicles must now comply with dozens of WP-29 standards — a framework developed by the United Nations World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations.

These include braking systems, airbags, seat belts, lighting, and crash protection in case of frontal, side, or pole impacts. The rules also mandate standards for child restraints, head restraints, tyre safety, steering systems, vehicle glazing, noise, and exhaust emissions.

For electric and hydrogen vehicles, the regulations extend to battery safety, charging systems, and high-voltage protection.

The decision, ratified by the federal cabinet on the recommendation of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), also requires importers to obtain pre-shipment inspection certificates from approved agencies such as JAAI in Japan or KTL in Korea, confirming vehicles are roadworthy and free from odometer tampering or structural damage.

Post-shipment inspections will be conducted at designated centres in Pakistan. The same standards will apply to locally assembled vehicles. Automakers have until June 30, 2026, to comply, after which the EDB will be empowered to revoke licenses for non-compliant companies.

Industry representatives, however, have voiced concerns. Amir Allawala of PAAPAM questioned whether the EDB had the technical capacity to regulate such wide-ranging standards, warning that reliance on foreign labs for certification could increase costs and drain foreign exchange.