Remembering Proficient- Pakistan’s First Locally Produced Automobile

[CSPK]

Generation of today might not have heard of the Proficient pickup. It was developed during the mid-1980s, by a local engineer Mr. Khalil ur Rahman (late) and was Pakistan’s very first locally assembled 1,000cc pickup. Proficient trucks were as good as most of the foreign brands and were cheaper as well. It competed in the small pickup and medium truck market, primarily against the Suzuki.

However, the Proficient project suffered badly due to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of support from the government, which then introduced an untimely policy of concessionary rate on CBU imports of Suzuki pickups (known as ‘Ravi’ today), the same capacity as the locally conceived Proficient. The government policy hurt the local project very badly, and the decision makers back then opted for the Suzuki CBU imports rather than supporting a homegrown brand.

If only the company would have been provided the required support, it could have been the window for self-dependency but fast forward today, we are still dependent on the same 40-year-old Suzuki pickups that we buy for over Rs 1.4 million today. Read more in detail about the story of Proficient here:

Remembering the Proficient- Pakistan's First Locally Produced Automobile | CarSpiritPK

Proficient was Pakistan's homegrown brand developed during the mid-1980s, by a local engineer Mr. Khalil ur Rahman (late). It was killed only to support imported Suzukis.

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[PradoTLC]

it was a crap car...

good decision to support Suzuki, however the fault was delegation of 100% local manufacturing which should have been done.

 

[Sineva]

Some more pics here
https://www.strategicfront.o r g/forums/threads/images-of-the-first-and-last-ever-100-made-in-pakistan-vehicles.1499/
[You`ll need to remove the spaces in the .org]

 

[S.Y.A]

it was a crap car...

good decision to support Suzuki, however the fault was delegation of 100% local manufacturing which should have been done.

and we still have shit bolan and ravi. no matter crap it was, it should have been supported and allowed to grow. never ever a good idea to support foreign over local. ab saray hoshyar rotay hain keh localization nahi hai aur exports nahi hain.

 

[fitpOsitive]

it was a crap car...

good decision to support Suzuki, however the fault was delegation of 100% local manufacturing which should have been done.

Proficiency comes with time. Thats why people ask for experienced employees. Even Imran Khan does that. 😁

 

[hembo]

it was a crap car...

good decision to support Suzuki, however the fault was delegation of 100% local manufacturing which should have been done.

It was his first and completely indegeneous attempt, albeit manual moulding of engine and gear box etc. However, the company was unfairly blocked instead of encouraged to automatize. I mean what does no electricity, water and telephone connection tells a company? A loud and clear dictate to F off.. It could have been nurtured to improve and make better cars eventually. Could have resulted in a better auto manufacturing ambience..

Just look at these crap car & bike prices in Pakistan these days..