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Atlas Honda introduces first EV bike in Pakistan

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Atlas Honda — one of Pakistan’s largest motorcycle manufacturers — has unveiled the company’s first EV motorcycle Honda ‘BENLY e’, although it did not specify when it would be rolled out in the country.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the company said the launch took place at a ceremony held at Atlas Honda’s Sheikhupura Factory to commemorate Atlas Honda’s 60th year of operations in Pakistan.

Chief Officer of Motorcycle and Power Products of Atlas Honda Noriaki Abe, on the occasion, said that Honda BENLY e will be offered for test marketing while new products will be offered based on the market feedback so that society and customers get the best of what Honda has to offer.

“Honda products have become an essential part of the daily life of many in Pakistan,” said Abe, adding that the joint venture between Atlas Group and Honda Motor Company has been at the forefront of motorcycle and auto parts manufacturing since 1963.

Speaking during the same event, Executive Vice President and COO of Honda Motor Company Shinji Aoyama said that the mobility industry is going through a rapid transformation and “Honda Motor was well positioned for the future”.

Saquib H Shirazi, President and CEO of Atlas Honda, said that Atlas Honda has expanded its product line up and achieved localisation of up to 95%.

“The company developed the largest network of local auto parts manufacturers and dealers. With more than 10,000 touchpoints, the company has created direct employment opportunities for more than 150,000 people,” said Shirazi.

Atlas Honda Limited reported a 152% jump in its net profit for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24, driven by a robust increase in sales and other income.

The motorcycle industry, which caters to the low-income segment of the population, suffered a decline in sales in October.

Motorcycle sales fell 5% month-on-month and 11% year-on-year in October.

Atlas Honda, the market leader, recorded sales of 90,000 units, down 5% month-on-month and 5% year-on-year.

In the first four months of the fiscal year, motorcycle sales fell 10% year-on-year to 371,000 units, due to higher bike prices and low purchasing power of consumers.

Challenges for EV bikes in Pakistan

Lack of charging infrastructure: There are not enough charging stations across the country to support the growing demand for EV bikes. The government needs to invest in the charging infrastructure and work with the private sector to attract investment.

High cost and low range: The EV bikes are still more expensive than the conventional bikes that run on petrol or diesel. The batteries are also costly and take a long time to charge. The range of the EV bikes is also limited, which means they cannot travel long distances without recharging.

Low awareness and acceptance: Many people in Pakistan are not familiar with the benefits of EV bikes and their environmental impact. The government needs to launch awareness campaigns to educate consumers and promote the adoption of EV bikes.

Inconsistent government policies: The EV policy in Pakistan is not clear and consistent. There are different incentives and regulations for different types of EVs and different sectors. The policy also needs to address the issues of taxation, standardisation, quality control, and safety of EVs.

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Trade Agreements Worth $10.70 Million Were Signed At Expo For Pakistan And Indonesia To Increase Their Trade With The Support Of SIFC

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Through the assistance of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistan and Indonesia have reiterated their dedication to improving their economic and commercial ties.

The participation of a Pakistani trade delegation was made possible by Indonesia at a recent trade expo, which resulted in the formation of agreements and memorandums of understanding with a total value of 10.70 million $. In addition to retail items and automobile components, these agreements span industries such as coconut, cocoa, ginger, spices, and retail goods.

As a key step toward improving economic ties, particularly with the Sindh business community, the participation of the group was praised by Tegu Viveko, who is acting as the Consul General of Indonesia.

Abid Nisar, the head of the Pakistan-Indonesia business council, has stated his confidence regarding the possibility of enhanced relations between the two countries, highlighting the historical and cultural origins of the connection.

In its capacity as a member of the G20, Indonesia intends to assist both nations in maximizing the benefits of their partnership in order to achieve better economic stability.

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Pakistan’s textile exports rose by 9.51% to $4.520 billion.

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Pakistan’s textile exports had a 9.51 percent increase in the first quarter of the current financial year (2024-25) compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported that textile exports from the country amounted to US $4.520 billion during July-September (2024-25), compared to US $4.127 billion during the same period in the previous year (2023-24).

The textile goods that facilitated trade expansion comprised cotton fabric, whose exports rose by 10.20 percent to $523.63 million from $475.187 million, and knitwear, which experienced a 14.13 percent increase in exports to $1,268.908 million from $1,111.818 million.

Other commodities that experienced trade growth included bed wear, with exports increasing by 13.31 percent to $794.972 million from $701.570 million; towels, which rose by 7.04 percent to $261.316 million from $244.134 million; and tents, canvas, and tarpaulin, which grew by 5.43 percent to $28.796 million this year compared to $27.312 million last year.

The export of readymade garments increased by 23.17 percent to $996.831 million from $809.316 million; art, silk, and synthetic textiles rose by 15.79 percent to $96.482 million; made-up articles (excluding towels and bed wear) grew by 12.10 percent to $191.050 million from $170.422 million; and the export of other textile materials surged by 8.73 percent to $187.145 million from $172.112 million.

The textile commodities that had negative trade growth were cotton yarn, with exports decreasing by 48.45 percent, from $315.404 million to $162.579 million, while raw cotton exports fell by 100 percent from 6.621 million to zero during the reviewed months.

The export of yarn, excluding cotton yarn, decreased by 15.15 percent, from $10.096 million to $8.566 million.

In September 2024, textile exports experienced a year-on-year growth of 17.92 percent compared to the same month in the previous year.

Textile exports from the country in September 2024 amounted to US $1,604.481 million, compared to US $1,360.902 million in September 2023.

Textile exports from the country experienced a nominal decline of 2.40 percent in September 2024, compared to the $1,644.333 million reported in August 2024, according to PBS statistics.

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PIA is designated as the official airline of IDEAS 2004.

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PIA has been designated as the official airline of IDEAS 2024. The PIA will utilise its aircraft for the promotion of IDEAS 2024.

In this context, the emblems of IDEAS 2024 have been affixed to two Boeing 777 aircraft and two Airbus planes of Pakistan International Airlines.

The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2024 is scheduled to commence from November 19 to 22 at the Karachi Expo Centre.

The government of Pakistan places significant value on IDEAS. The show draws several delegates and is perceived as a means to promote their local arms trade.

The inaugural IDEAS launch took place in 2000, serving as a platform to promote Pakistan’s indigenous arms manufacturing industry while allowing international suppliers to provide solutions for the needs of Pakistan’s tri-services.

The event, consistently held at the Karachi Expo Centre, attracted forty-five foreign delegations in its inaugural year.

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