KARACHI: A number of local companies in Pakistan have started armouring passenger vehicles following demand driven by the deteriorating law and order situation in the country.
With many industrialists, corporate executives, politicians and government officials opting for bulletproof vehicles because of an increasing sense of insecurity, the business of armouring looks all set to boom.
Mansoor Ahmed, General Manager (Technical) of Omar Jibran Engineering Industries, said his company had armoured 75-80 passenger vehicles, including four-wheel drive vehicles and sports utility vehicles, from 2009 to 2012.
He said the company, which has been producing plastic and sheet metal parts for vehicle manufacturers in the country for decades, had established an armouring division for passenger vehicles.
The company was procuring materials from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, South America and Australia for bulletproofing vehicles, he said.
“There is a huge demand from customers to armour their vehicles, but vehicle owners need to get an NOC (no objection certificate) from the Interior Ministry, and without NOC the company does not armour the vehicle. We are now turning four to five high engine power vehicles into bulletproof ones, besides securing orders for 10-15 more vehicles,” he said.
Giving an example, he said a car can be armoured at a cost of Rs3m, which covers floor tops, doors, pillars, glasses, fuel tank, and the front and rear portions.
If a person wants to get his vehicle made bulletproof abroad, it would cost more than Rs10m, which includes shipment costs and taxes, he added.
INTERNEWS
