T HIS is with reference to the report `Carmakers hike prices on higher freight, weak rupee` (Nov 11). The automobile industry in Pakistan has always been a topic of interest whether we discuss its role in the country`s economy, or its lack of innovation, or the soaring prices.

The national automobile industry has never been fair with the customers. Cars and motorbikes are always overpriced and lack the features that are available in the same models elsewhere. Frankly speaking, the carmakers have absolute fun owing to the limited options the buyers have.

If we compare the similar units of the same car model we have in our country with the rest of the world, it will not be surprising that the same models are costing less in other countries and they have far better features in all aspects, especially in terms of safety. Our expectations from a car and its features are so minimal that industry giants take advantage of their customers and make money of the kind that they cannot imagine making in any other society.

Why is the government not making it compulsory for automobile manufacturers to incorporate features like airbags, anti-lock breaking system, lane assist, emergency breaking, etc? The government inaction is beyond comprehension.

As a result of government inaction, even the new players in the market are adopting the same strategies. They are also taking away features that their vehicles have in other societies, and they raise the prices all the time simply because the government is not interested in keeping a check on what is going on in the market.

While cars assembled locally are not up to the mark, the imported ones are beyond the reach and capacity of the working class. The dream of owning a car is fading by the day as far as the Pakistani middle class is concerned. Is there anybody who can do anything in this regard? Hasan Yaseen Mirza Islamabad