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1300cc Kia Classic

car rolls out

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Dewan Mohammad Yousuf Farooqui, Managing Director, Dewan Farooque Motors Limited (DFML), on Saturday said that the Dewan group of industries has prepared a plan to develop industrial park at Sujawal iin District Thatta, with the collaboration of a Korean firm.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Dewan Farooque Motors plant and roll-off of first KIA Classic 1300cc passenger car, at Sujawal, he expressed the hope that the government would provide all necessary support for the proposed industrial park, and added that the establishment of industrial park would open new job opportunities.

He praised the efforts of Pakistani engineers who have completed the first phase of the DFML in just six months whereas similar plants take at least eight to 12 months. He said as a part of its expansion and diversification programme, Dewan Group entered into a technical licensing agreement in August 1999 with Hyundai Motor Company and technical collaboration agreement with KIA Motors Corporation. This resulted in the foundation of the DFML.

Inaugurating the plant, J. I. Kim, Executive Vice-President of KIA Motors Corp. Korea, said Korean firms were interested to take part in economic development of Pakistan.

He said KIA Motors Corporation would also help to develope vender-to-vender collaboration between the two countries. He congratulated Pakistani engineers who completed the task phase in just six months and said that this shows the skill and advancement of Pakistani engineers.

Welcoming the guests, Dewan Zia-ur-Rehman Farooque, said that the new KIA Classic is a car that is unique in its class. With features including 5-speed manual transmission, full instrument panel, AC/heater, power windows, 4-speaker stereo system, central locking system, the KIA Classic will be a sure success in the ever-demanding automobile market. He said that the Dewan Group plans to extend its activities to other sectors of the automobile industry namely engineering, electronics, metal, rubber and plastic. The ultimate aim is to achieve 90 percent localisation by the year 2015 in progressive assembly and manufacture of automobiles.

He said that the company will produce 20,000 vehicles annually and added that by the end of this year KIA would introduce 1000cc car.

He said establishment of this unit and completion of second phase of the plant will create new job opportunities.