Save Our Pak
The government is planning to place strict restrictions on the import of used cars by overseas Pakistanis. The goal is to stop the misuse of this facility that allows Pakistanis living abroad to bring cars into the country.
A meeting was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan. Senior government officials, along with representatives from the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) and the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), attended the meeting to discuss the issue.
Earlier, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had asked the Commerce Division to review its proposal to change the rules in the Import Policy Order 2022. The changes were related to the import of vehicles under the personal baggage, transfer of residence, and gift schemes.
During the meeting, all sides agreed to make these schemes stricter. The government plans to limit eligibility only to genuine overseas Pakistanis. According to the new proposal, any imported car must be registered under the name of the overseas Pakistani for at least six months before it leaves their country of residence. However, many overseas Pakistanis have requested the government to take a softer approach.
The Ministry of Industries shared that several importers have been misusing foreign identities to bring cars commercially into Pakistan. Because of this misuse, the ministry suggested that tighter controls are necessary.
Representatives from PAAPAM expressed concern that the import of used cars is hurting the local auto parts industry. They asked the government to discourage used car imports and support local manufacturers instead.
Now, the Ministry of Commerce is reviewing all recommendations and will soon send the final proposal to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for approval after discussions are complete.
Reported by Save Our Pak.
