Islamabad: Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has announced the introduction of a new policy aimed at bolstering the local production of automobile parts. The announcement was made during a meeting with a delegation from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Islamabad.

According to Radio Pakistan, Haroon emphasized the importance of enhancing local manufacturing of automobile parts, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision to create new job opportunities through the growth of the manufacturing industries and localization of automobile parts production. He informed the delegation about the consideration of a new research and development policy that aims to encourage investment in innovation and support the development of local industries.

Haroon further stated that the government is committed to improving the efficiency and performance of the manufacturing sector as a means to drive economic growth. He assured the delegation of the government's full support in the development of industries and technological advancements, while the meeting also highlighted the importance of technological upgrades and support for industrialists.

In a separate meeting with a delegation of the Utility Stores Corporation, Haroon Akhtar Khan stressed the need for strict monitoring and performance improvements at Utility Stores, which is Pakistan's largest retail network. The meeting discussed various measures to enhance the performance of the Utility Stores, with Haroon making it clear that the government will not tolerate corruption in any department and will ensure transparency at all levels.

The delegation was informed about the restructuring plans for the Utility Stores, which include reducing the number of stores from 3,742 to 1,563. This restructuring aims to improve the efficiency of the corporation and alleviate the financial burden on the national treasury. Haroon reiterated his commitment to improving the services provided by Utility Stores and stabilizing the corporation's financial position through these restructuring and performance enhancement measures.