This section deals with FAQs related to passengers of Pakistani origin who are travelling back to Pakistan for a holiday or a visit and have queries in mind on how the latest customs and duties apply to them. Also mentioned alongside are basic FAQa on how to best import vehicles to Pakistan
INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS COMING TO PAKISTAN
Q.1. What are the allowances admissible while one is returning back to Pakistan?
Ans. Pakistani nationals returning from abroad are normally categorized as non-tourist international passengers. Allowances admissible to the non-tourist passengers depend upon the length of stay abroad during the current calendar year. Other than your personal wearing apparel and travelling goods you can bring some goods for making gifts amounting to US $225 if your stay abroad is less than six months and US$ 450 for over six months during the calendar year. Certain electronic goods are not covered within this duty-free allowance and are released on payment of duties and taxes at the time of arrival.
Q.2. When someone is coming back after a period of more than three years with his/her old and used T.V and VCR. Shall he/she have to pay taxes or otherwise?
Ans. T.V and VCR are among those items, which are not covered under the Duty-Free Allowance described in Question No.1. Such compulsorily taxable articles include Air- conditioner, Cooking Range, Deep Freezer, Gas Appliances, Microwave Oven, Refrigerator, Sewing Machine, Television, Video Cassette Player, Video Cassette Recorder, Washing Machine, Fax Machine, Video CD Player and DVD Player. Depreciation may be allowed by Assistant Collector / Deputy, Collector to the extent of 10% and by Additional Collector to the extent of 25% after proper examination / satisfaction according to the condition and extent of use in respect of the goods brought as accompanied baggage / Transfer of Residence. No depreciation shall be allowed in case of non- accompanied baggage except brought under Transfer of Residence.
Q.3. Why should one pay the taxes in foreign exchange?
Ans. It is in accordance with the government policy announced in Annual Budget 1999-2000. Legal Instrument for charging duty in foreign exchange is Customs General Order No.22/99. You will, therefore, be required to pay duties and taxes in U.S. Dollars.
Q.4. One is inclined to bring a Personal Computer along with a Lap-top, what will is the import status?
Ans. Both the items are free of duty and taxes and covered within the allowances admissible to the non-tourist International Passengers.
Q.5. What are the currency limitations?
Ans. Currency restrictions are regulated by the State Bank of Pakistan and are enforced by Pakistan Customs. You can bring any amount of foreign currency into the country. However at the time of departure only an amount of 10,000 US$ per person is admissible to be taken out of Pakistan. Pakistani currency up-to Rs.3000/- is permissible to be taken out of Pakistan by an International Passenger travelling abroad to a country other than India. In such case the currency restriction is Rs.500/- only.
Q.6. Can one bring his/her pet dog into Pakistan?
Ans. Yes. It should accompany a Health certificate from the country of origin and subject to the Animal Quarantine restrictions.
Q.7. How can one avail Transfer of Residence (TR) facilities. What are the relevant provisions of the Baggage Rules?
Ans. To claim the T.R facilities, your stay abroad should not be less than two years. Further, your visa should be cancelled or a certificate in this regard is issued by the Embassy of Pakistan abroad.
Q.8. What is the status of bringing liquor into Pakistan for self-consumption?
Ans. Import of liquor is prohibited and is liable to be seized and confiscated outright. Pakistani Muslim nationals returning abroad cannot bring any alcoholic beverage. It is clarified that arms, ammunition, obscene and subversive literature and alcoholic beverage are prohibited under the Passenger's Baggage (import) Rules. Such goods brought in large quantities valuing Rs.50,000/- and above attract punitive measures including arrest and prosecution under the Customs Act, 1969.
Q.9. When one is coming with no dutiable goods how could he/she get through the Customs barriers?
Ans. You can use the Green Channel.
Q.10. If one declare his/her dutiable items at the "Customs Voluntary Declaration Counter" then why they are supposed to open their package (s)?
Ans. Since one have to verify and record marks and number of the item(s) for the realization of duties and taxes, appropriate officer may have to examine their baggage.
Q.11. How much gold jewellery is admissible to one if he/she coming after stay of more than six months abroad?
Ans. Gold jewellery valuing US$ 600 and 1100 is only admissible to the lady passengers as per her stay less and over six months abroad respectively during the current calendar year.
Q. 12. How would the goods belonging to the "Deceased person" be dealt with?
Ans. Personal effects of the Pakistani national who dies abroad can be cleared/imported by or on behalf of next kin of the deceased. Those articles and goods are exempt from customs duty/taxes, which fall under the purview of duty free allowances. However, certain items such as, washing machines, TV sets, sewing machine, VCR, VCP, cooking range, microwave oven and air-conditioner will be allowed on payment of duty/taxes.
Q. I3. If one do not have the money to pay against taxes levied on his/her dutiable goods, what course of action he/she should take?
Ans. You may deposit your dutiable item(s) against a proper Detention Receipt pending payment of taxes. However, if the goods are left under customs custody for a period of over one-month, they can be auctioned by the Customs Department according to the Customs Act.
Q.14. What about the tourists who bring their sporting firearms for use during the stay in Pakistan?
Ans. The sporting firearms will only be released by the Customs, if you can produce an Arm's License issued to you by the competent authority in Pakistan subject to a declaration before the appropriate officer at the time of arrival.
IMPORT OF VEHICLES
Q 1: As an overseas Pakistani can any one import a vehicle from abroad? What are the relevant information?
Ans: Every overseas Pakistani, subject to fulfillment of eligibility conditions laid down in The Import Trade and Procedure Order, 2000 can import a vehicle from abroad. However, students receiving remittances from Pakistan, non-earning member of families of the Pakistani National and those who have imported/gifted vehicle during the last two years can not import a vehicle under the said Rules. The import policy is often revised from time to time, usually after every financial year. Therefore the latest updated version of import policy order must be consulted.
Q 2: What type of vehicles are importable under Personal Baggage/Gift Scheme and TR Scheme?
Ans: New or up to 2 year old Car, Bus, Van, Truck and Pickup and 4x4 vehicles are importable under Gift and Personal Baggage Scheme and vehicles of same type which are more than two years old are importable under TR Scheme as per Import Trade and Procedure Order, 2000.
Q 3: How can an overseas Pakistani bring a new car on his return to Pakistan?
Ans: An overseas Pakistani who has been residing abroad for the last seven months and has spent 180 days abroad during the last seven months can bring a new car under the Import Trade and Procedure Order, 2000. However, if he brings a vehicle of 1800cc and above or 4x4 vehicle, customs duty and other taxes will be paid in foreign exchange supported by bank encashment certificate.
Q 4: What is the procedure of importing a vehicle in baggage and what are the documents that will be required?
Ans: Your stay abroad must be over 180 day to qualify for the import of a vehicle. If the vehicle is old and used, it must be registered in your name at least 60 days prior to your departure for Pakistan. The following documents will be required to be produced to Customs Authorities.
1. Purchase receipt of the vehicle.
2. Bill of lading
3. Photocopy of passport duly attested by the Embassy / Consulate of Pakistan abroad.
4. The registration documents in case of used vehicles.
In Custom House, Karachi the clearance of vehicles is done by Group-VIII of Appraisement Collectorate located at First Floor. The passenger who imports the vehicle himself presents the aforementioned documents to import authorization cell along with original passport. The staff posted in this cell provides an import authorization form (Free of cost) and the passenger after filling the form delivers it to the concerned staff along with above mentioned documents, which after scrutiny is submitted to Deputy / Assistant Collector in charge of Group-VIII for approval /signature.
After approval / signature of the import authorization form, the original documents are handed over to the passenger and the vehicle is cleared upon filing of bill of entry through the Customs approved clearing agent after payment of duty and other taxes. Similarly, vehicle can also be cleared at other Customs Stations i.e. Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Quetta, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
Q 5: Can an individual residing in the UAE send 2 vehicles as gift to Pakistan? What is the proper procedure to be followed?
Ans: Gifting of two cars is not permissible. Only one new or upto two years old car can be gifted to family member (father, mother, wife and children above 18 years age) provided you have been residing abroad for more than 23 months and not visited Pakistan for more than 30 days during the last six months from the date of gifting the car.
Procedure:
1. Approach the Embassy / Consulate of Pakistan to obtaining "Gift certificate" and "Earning certificate"
2. Get the photocopy of you passport attested and you should be able to gift the vehicle.
3. After gifting the vehicle, forward the relevant documents i.e. gift undertaking, earning certificate, attested copy of passport, bill off lading and invoice to the giftee.
4. The giftee on receipt of documents himself or in case of ladies through their attorney should present the above mentioned documents alongwith original NIC to the office of IP Cell in the concerned Custom House, for clearance of vehicle.
5. The staff posted in IP Cell after inspection of the documents will issue import authorization with approval of the Deputy Collector /Assistant Collector in charge and hand over the import authorization and original gift documents to the giftee.
6. The giftee after obtaining the import authorization will file bill of entry through customs authorized clearing agent for clearance of vehicle and the vehicle will be released on payment of duty and other taxes assessed by the Customs.
Q 6: If I am unable to pay the duty, taxes assessed on my car, what will happen? Can I send my car back?
Ans:The car will be liable for disposal through auction. You can however claim the sale proceeds after deduction of all leviable duty, taxes and other charges. (However you can send it back after obtaining NOC from Ministry of Commerce and State Bank of Pakistan.
