KARACHI: Sales of cars, pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles clocked in at 23,055 units in January, marking a 43-month high, reflecting a 36 per cent year-on-year (YoY) and 74pc month-on-month (MoM) increase.

Cumulative sales rose 43pc to 111,377 units in 7MFY26, up from 77,686 units in 7MFY25. Myesha Sohail of Topline Securi­ties said the sharp MoM surge was largely driven by new-year registrations, as customers typically delay deliveries to secure January registrations for better resale value.

The strong YoY growth was supported by new market entrants, lower interest rates, easing inflation, and improving macroeconomic sentiment, she said.

Sazgar Engineering Works Ltd (SEWL) reported all-time high sales of 2,004 units in January, up 72pc MoM. SEWL sales in 7MFY26 were 9,214, up by 49pc YoY.

Tractor demand shrinks, truck and bus sales surge to record high

Indus Motor Company (IMC) and Honda Atlas Cars Ltd (HCAR) recorded 43-month high sales in January, she added.

HACL posted growth of 64pc YoY and 86pc MoM to 3,620 units in January. Honda City and Civic models sales rose 69pc YoY and 93pc MoM to 3,364 units, which were a 43-month high. BRV and HRV models surged by 14pc YoY and 25pc MoM to 256 units in January. HACL sold 15,659 units in 7MFY26, up by 68pc YoY.

IMC posted a 52pc YoY and 119pc MoM growth to 5,060 units. Corolla, Yaris and Cross sales together went up 90pc YoY and 93pc MoM to 4,078 units. Meanwhile, Fortuner and IMVs fell 17pc YoY but rose to 982 units in January from 196 units in December 2025. Total IMC sales during 7MFY26 were 25,623, showing a growth of 61pc YoY.

In 2 and 3-wheelers, sales increased by 31pc YoY and 13pc MoM to 181,790 units in January, marking an all-time high. This took cumulative 7MFY26 sales to 1.1m units, up 32pc YoY.

Atlas Honda Ltd (AHL), the maker of the popular CD70 bike, yet again recorded all-time high monthly sales of 157,059 units in January.

Tractor sales posted a decline of 9pc YoY and 26pc MoM to 2,505 units in January, while total sales (Fiat and Millat) in 7MFY26 fell by 23pc to 15,434 units YoY.

Truck and bus sales surged by 77pc YoY and three times MoM to 1,101 units in January, to an all-time high. During 7MFY26, total sales surged by 92pc to 4,633 units YoY.

Myesha Sohail expects positive momentum in auto sales to continue in 2026, supported by lower interest rates and new hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026

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• Sanctioned load to determine monthly bill regardless of use
• Industry freed from cross-subsidy, govt tells hearing

ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday reluctantly conceded that the industrial sector had, for the first time, been fully freed from cross-subsidy to compete globally, as it disclosed a higher-than-previously known financial impact of the newly imposed fixed charges on residential electricity consumers.

At an almost one-way public hearing on Rs4.04 per unit average cut in power rates for industrial consumers and imposition of fixed charges on residential consumers, industrial consumers, power division and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) were all praise for each other for a long overdue “great move” and “first step in the right direction”.

No representative appeared on behalf of more than 28.5 million residential consumers who will be subject to the fixed charges.

The power division team, led by Additional Secretary Mehfooz Bhatti and comprising the chief financial officer of Power Planning and Manage­ment Com­pany (PPMC), Naveed Qaiser, reported that fixed charges would be collected from residential consumers at the rate of Rs200-675 per kilowatt a month and not Rs200-675 per connection per month.

This means the charge will be linked to the sanctioned load regardless of consumption. A consumer with a 2kW sanctioned load would pay Rs400 per month at a Rs200 per kW rate, while a 5kW consumer would pay Rs2,500 per month at Rs500 per kW. A 6kW sanctioned load would attract Rs4,050 per month at Rs675 per kW.

Mr Qaiser said it was also for the first time that a two-part tariff would be charged to consumers to cater for the Rs2.56 trillion annual fixed cost of capacity. While the move reduces about Rs101bn cross-subsidy from industrial consumers, the recovery of fixed charge would increase by Rs132bn, to Rs355bn (10 per cent) from Rs223bn (7pc) at present, excluding 18pc GST and other surcharges and duties.

He said that about Rs31bn to be collected through fixed charges would be used to reduce the variable tariff of consumers using more than 300 units per month to minimise their incentive to move away from the national grid, while the remaining Rs101bn would be used to ease the industrial burden.

Mr Bhatti said the industrial tariff would now come down to around 11.50 cents per unit from around 13, although it was still higher than regional competitors, but involved no cross-subsidy.

Separately, the financial advisory firm Optimus Capital Management worked out the average power tariff for protected consumers in the first 100-unit slab, increasing by 76pc or Rs8 per unit due to the fixed charge. The average cost for 101-200 units in the protected category would see an increase of Rs4 per unit (or 31pc).

For the non-protected category, Optimus estimated a 74pc increase — about Rs16.50 per unit — for the first 100 units, followed by a 21pc increase (about Rs6 per unit) for the 101-200 unit slab.

It said the net average tariff, including fixed charges, would rise for all domestic consumers, including by 13pc for 201-300 units, 6.5pc for 301-400 units, 5.8pc for 401-600 units per month and about 5pc for consumption above 600 units. The only net reduction — about 7pc — would apply to time-of-use consumers with sanctioned load above 5kW.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026

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LAHORE: Ambassa­dor of the United Arab Emirates Hammad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi revealed on Tuesday that Pakistan and the UAE are at the final stage of signing a Comprehensive Eco­nomic Partnership Agree­ment (CEPA), which would significantly boost bilateral trade and remove business obstacles between the two countries.

“The current trade volume of around $8 to $10 billion does not reflect the true strength of relations. So our government wants to double this figure as soon as possible,” he said while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday. LCCI Presi­dent Fah­eem Ur Rehman Saigol welcomed the envoy.

The ambassador further said that the UAE is rapidly shifting towards an AI-driven, digitised economy, where nearly 99 per cent of government services are available online. Referring to the visa process, the envoy said both countries are working to streamline procedures through digital systems.

He appreciated the efforts of Pakistan’s Min­istry of Interior and said discussions were under­way with the Punjab Skilled Labour Authority to enhance cooperation in skilled workforce mobility.

Eyes doubling of bilateral trade to $16-20bn

He emphasised that he is personally working at operational and technical levels to ensure that all signed agreements, including CEPA and other trade frameworks, are fully implemented.

The ambassador said the UAE is expanding investments in Pakistan in key sectors, including infrastructure, ports, aviation, agriculture, minerals and railways. He revealed that discussions with Pakistan’s Railway Minis­try are progressing and new agreements related to supply chain connectivity from northern regions to Karachi, including the possibility of a dry port, would be announced soon. He added that the Joint Business Council is being activated, and efforts are underway to hold its meeting at the earliest.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026

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