Buddy, can you spare a part? Auto industry awaits law on imports.

The Kurdish region's fast-paced development has been matched by motorists' love for speed, which has led to an alarmingly high rate of traffic accidents. Coupled with the advent of new models of cars into the region's markets, an urgent need has arisen for more auto-body workshops. These workshops would serve as legal trustees and formal branches of the car companies, and this is expected to ease post-purchase servicing. The greater availability of spare parts in the Kurdish region will no doubt be welcomed by car aficionados, who have thus far struggled to find parts.

"I really liked my Lumina van, but I had to sell it because the problem was there wasn't a shop that brought in its pieces. I waited for three months for front lights to be brought in from Dubai," said Sarwar Ahmed, who was eventually compelled to buy another car.

Before someone makes a decision to buy any given car, they must know something about the model and how well it is provided for in the market. Those vehicles that have ample spare parts in the bazaars are likely to be sold for a higher price than those which do not, regardless of the value of the model abroad.

"People always look for cars that a local mechanic will be able to fix, they think about whether or not the spare parts exist in the market as well as A/C features for our summer heat and winter chill," said Usman Qadir, a car dealer.

Some lament the lack of spare parts available for their cars, while others worry about the effect the large number of cars are having on the environment.

"I think that using cars is very dangerous for the environment, but it has become almost impossible to live without cars these days," said Peshraw Ghafur, a driver in Slemani. "I can't live without them either! I am constantly changing my car trying to find the right one that will not face the problem of lack of spare parts. I waited for two side mirrors for my Daewoo car for ages, I searched in Erbil and Kirkuk, I didn't find it. But I can find it in bazaar here easily now."Aa

According to Ghafur, if the government issues an official statement allowing people to bring in spare parts, he will no longer have to search high and low when necessary.

"We will no longer search for spare pieces or to look for a piece that is similar to the original," he said.As yet, there has been no official decision from the government to allow people to bring in spare parts and no spokesmen from the government have issued statements to this effect. Nevertheless, there is a large quantity of spare parts sold in the bazaars declaring the markets open and the merchants are bringing shipments from abroad into the country in different, inventive ways.

"They come in from Iran, Syria and Dubai; there are also a few people who bring things in from Turkey. There are some merchants whom I have no idea where they bring their stuff in from but I never ask them because the important thing is I have a spare piece for those who come to my shop," said Wasta Rahman said, who has a shop for car pieces in Nali Square.

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