Time for Pakistan to join the global mobility revolution

The global mobility landscape is undergoing its most dramatic transformation in over a century. From Tokyo to Detroit, the world’s leading automotive giants are redefining transportation through electrification, artificial intelligence, and clean energy. The Japan Mobility Show 2025, currently underway in Tokyo, symbolizes this transformation – presenting not only futuristic vehicles but entire ecosystems of innovation that combine sustainability, digital connectivity, and human-centered design. For Pakistan, this transformation represents both a challenge and an opportunity: a chance to link into the global auto-mobility value chain before the rest of the world speeds too far ahead.
The event, which runs from October 31 to November 9 at Tokyo Big Sight, has brought together Japan’s foremost automakers – Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Subaru – each unveiling breakthrough technologies that will define the next decade of mobility. The exhibition has become a laboratory of the future, featuring electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, AI-driven autonomous systems, and advanced micro-mobility solutions designed for a more connected, low-carbon world.
Representing Pakistan at this prestigious global showcase is a high-level delegation led by Hiroshi Kawamura, Managing Director of Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd, along with Amir Shaffi and Ikhlaq Ahmed Virk from the company’s marketing team. They were joined by a six-member high-level media delegation led by Senator Syed Sarmad Ali, President of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Managing Director of the Jang Media Group. Their presence reflects Pakistan’s growing interest in global mobility trends and the strengthening of the Japan-Pakistan partnership in the automotive and industrial sectors.
At the Suzuki Pavilion, Toshihiro Suzuki, President and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, unveiled the company’s future vision under the theme “By Your Side.” He emphasized Suzuki’s evolution toward electrification, innovation, and sustainability, while reaffirming its commitment to serving customers’ everyday mobility needs. Suzuki’s message was clear – the future of mobility is not only about machines, but about people, communities, and the shared responsibility to reduce environmental impact.
For Pakistan, where Suzuki is synonymous with affordability and reliability, this philosophy carries deep significance. It provides a roadmap for the local industry’s evolution – from traditional assembly-line production to a model centered on innovation, technology, and sustainability. The country’s automotive industry, which has long depended on imported parts and limited localization, now stands at a critical crossroads.
“Pakistan’s participation in the Japan Mobility Show 2025 through Pak Suzuki is highly symbolic, but the message is unmistakable: we must shift gears from traditional assembly to global integration,” said Mubasher Mir, President of the Karachi Editors Club (KEC). “This decade will define the future of Pakistan’s automotive industry. The world is transitioning toward clean energy and smart transport – and we can no longer afford to lag behind.”
Ikhlaq Ahmed Virk, a senior official of Pak Suzuki Motor Company, emphasized the need for a forward-looking automotive policy that focuses on Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) infrastructure, technology transfer, and skill development. He proposed that Pakistan collaborate closely with Japanese manufacturers to establish local production facilities for CBG-powered vehicles and their components, enabling the country to align with Asia’s clean-energy transition.
Virk added that organizations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) could play a pivotal role in supporting technology transfer, vocational training, and industrial investment within Pakistan’s mobility sector. “Our longstanding relationship with Japan should now evolve into a partnership for joint innovation,” he said.
The regional context amplifies this urgency. Countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia have already positioned themselves as key players in the global electric and clean-energy vehicle supply chains. Through consistent policies, investor incentives, and long-term industrial planning, these nations have attracted multinational automakers and suppliers. Pakistan, however, continues to operate without a cohesive framework that connects its industrial strategy with emerging technologies. Unless swift and strategic reforms are introduced, the country risks losing valuable investment, employment opportunities, and technological advancement.
To remain competitive, Pakistan must prioritize industrial modernization and policy consistency. Tax incentives for clean-energy technologies, low-interest financing for component manufacturers, and partnerships with global R&D centers are essential. Equally important is investment in human capital – universities and technical institutes must introduce specialized programs in EV engineering, battery systems, AI-based mobility solutions, and energy-efficient design.
As Senator Syed Sarmad Ali noted during his discussions with journalists in Tokyo, “Mobility today extends far beyond cars – it encompasses connectivity, data, energy, and design. Pakistan’s youth, entrepreneurs, and engineers have the creativity and capacity to participate in this new ecosystem, provided they are equipped with the right tools, technology, and direction.” His observation underscores a crucial truth: the success of Pakistan’s industrial future depends on how effectively it integrates education, innovation, and entrepreneurship within its policy framework.
The Japan Mobility Show 2025, expected to draw more than one million visitors, is not just an exhibition – it is a statement of direction for the global economy. For Pakistan, the lessons from Tokyo are immediate and clear: nations that invest in innovation, integration, and sustainable mobility will shape the next industrial era.
“By Your Side” – Suzuki’s guiding theme – carries a deeper message that transcends corporate branding. It reflects partnership – between nations, industries, and people – built on shared growth and mutual progress. For Pakistan, embracing this philosophy means more than following a global trend; it means building a future where technology and sustainability move hand in hand.
The road ahead may not be easy, but it is navigable – with vision, commitment, and collaboration. The future of mobility is already here; it is time for Pakistan to join the revolution and drive confidently by Japan’s side – and by the world’s.