*KARACHI: *Rahmat Group has signed at least 14 memorandum of understanding(MoU) and technical collaboration agreements last month with Chinesecompanies to establish Electrical Complex at Nooriabad.

This complex has been planned to establish assembly-cum-progressivemanufacturing plants for electric/ battery operated vehicles under jointventure and technical collaboration agreements with the Chinesemanufacturers.

Roll out will begin with electric buses. Eventually, the group plans anentry into electric two-wheelers as well. Plants with two well-knowncompanies of China would be set up at the complex, reports a national daily.

Rahmat Group’s chief operating officer Shaukat Qureishi said on Saturdaythat the group has already acquired 25 acres of land at Nooriabad. Thegroup is filing the application and proposals with the Board of Investmentand ministry of Industries after the Eid, based on all the joint ventureagreements signed by respective manufacturers from China.

As soon as the approval is granted, a crash plan has been made to come upwith the models within 4-6 months, while the production lines will be setup on a fast track, said Qureshi.

“All arrangements have been firmed up with the partners concerning plants,machinery, and equipment,” he said, adding immediate production would beunder SKD followed by CKD as per the localisation program of Auto Policy2016-2021. However, for introduction, immediate imports of the desiredunits would be conducted within the 3-4 months.

A MoU has been signed with two different Chinese companies for the localproduction of electric cars (small cars) with different capacities whileanother memorandum has been signed with another Chinese firm to assembleelectric vans/pickup/loaders.

The group also plans to make electric lithium-based high-tech batterieswith two famous Chinese companies for use in buses and cars as well asmotorcycles on options.

Giving some examples, Shaukat said some the of MoUs and technicalcollaboration agreements signed with Chinese companies are ShangdongLeiteng Electric Power Technology Co, Jiangzi Technical VehiclesManufacturing Co Ltd, Jiangsu Fuan Technologies, Louyang Xinguang LithiumScience and Technology Co Ltd, Zhehang Shangi Tianying Vehicle Industries,Yangzhou Daojue New Energy Development Co Ltd, Haohong Motors, WeifangShandong Electric Power Technology Co Ltd, Shanghai Shenlong Bus Co Ltd,Wuxi Shengbao Electric Vehicle Co Ltd and Base Ningbo Foreign Trade Co Ltd.

The government has recently relaxed duties of electric vehicles in the lastbudget which is not enough. In order to save foreign exchange from purchaseof fuel, a crash programme ought to be launched by the government topromote e-vehicles, with zero customs duty and sales tax.