Federal cabinet approved first auto safety law will be implemented on both locally assembled and imported automobiles.

According to media reports, the law introduces strict penalties, including prison terms of up to three years and fines reaching Rs. 10 million for violators.

The Act is designed to enforce safety, quality, performance, and environmental benchmarks for all vehicles. Under the new rules, no vehicle can be sold without being registered under the law and having a certificate of conformity.

Manufacturers and importers who fail to comply could face up to one year in jail or fines starting at Rs. 500,000. Not issuing a certificate could result in six months’ imprisonment, while failing to recall defective vehicles may lead to two years in jail or fines of at least Rs. 5 million.

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Ignoring a recall order from the Engineering Development Board (EDB) carries the harshest penalty, up to three years in prison or a Rs. 10 million fine.

The legislation will now be referred to parliamentary committees for scrutiny before a third reading vote.

According to the proposed law, only approved companies with vetted non-used capital and car imports as their core business will be permitted to import cars for repair. Baggage and gift scheme imports will still be exempted.

Further, all vehicles should obviously show technical data like dimension, weight, number of seats, and use particulars. Electric cars should also include type of battery, performance characteristics, recycling facts, and the standards for recharging. Any car or component found to create safety hazards will be recalled even if it was previously approved.