In Pakistan, the government has announced a ban on 38 imported luxury items, including mobile phones, chocolates, cars, shoes, and other items, to reduce the import bill and current account deficit.
The Ministry of Commerce had also issued a notification on Friday banning the import of all these items into the country. However, can overseas Pakistanis or ordinary Pakistanis coming from abroad bring these imported items for their own use?
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Mujtaba Momin said that FBR baggage rules would be applicable to passengers coming from abroad.
He said that there are separate rules for commercial imports while there are rules and regulations for passengers coming from abroad to bring goods according to their repatriation period.
- How to become rich in pkaistan 2022
What can people living abroad bring for seven days or less?
According to the baggage rules on the FBR's website, Pakistani travelers returning from a stay abroad for seven days or less can still bring their personal belongings with them without paying duty.
These include mobile phones, electric shavers, personal clothing, jewelry, baby toys if accompanied by a child, personal wheelchairs, irons, hairdryers, and hairdressers.
You can also bring 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 500 grams of tobacco, a watch, a laptop, and a used charger.
Instructions for those living abroad for more than eight days
According to the FBR's baggage rules, such traveling ladies and gentlemen who have stayed outside Pakistan for eight days can bring the following items with them without paying any duty.
All items of personal use mentioned above in the case of those staying less than seven days can be brought by the people of this category on each of their visits.
Such persons can bring the following items without any duty only during the first visit in a calendar year.
A radio and a tape recorder, a VCR or DVD player or similar device, a generic camera and a video camera, personalized jewelry in reasonable quantities, and professional equipment worth no more than 500 USD.
Bring religious itmes and other items, but this list does not include TV, deep freezer, washing machine, air conditioner, refrigerator, microwave oven, or cooking range.
In addition to these items, those who stay out for more than eight days on payment of fixed duty can also bring TV, deep freezer, washing machine, air conditioner, refrigerator, microwave oven, cooking range etc.
What can Pakistanis who move change bring?
According to FBR regulations, Pakistanis who are returning to Pakistan permanently can bring the following items without paying duty.
- Free online courses in Pakistan 2022
All items are allowed to be brought by people staying abroad for more than eight days. In addition, Pakistani passengers in this category can bring old furniture, kitchen utensils, utensils, faucets, etc., carpets, curtains, bed sheets, blankets, etc., without paying duty.
However, this list does not include TV, deep freezer, washing machine, air conditioner, refrigerator, microwave oven, cooking range.
Such people can also bring professional equipment worth up to five thousand dollars. People who are doctors can also bring used medical devices such as electromedical devices.
Members of the police, army, and law enforcement agencies in this category may also carry non-prohibited weapons.
In addition, those who stay out for more than 8 days on payment of fixed duty can also bring TV, deep freezer, washing machine, air conditioner, refrigerator, microwave oven, cooking range etc.
What items are banned from importing?
Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb told a news conference on Thursday that the government had decided to ban all non-essential luxury items to reduce the fiscal deficit.
The government has banned the import of luxury items, including cars and mobile phones.
These include dried fruit, household items, utensils, weapons for personal use, shoes, and decorative pieces.
Import of door and window frames, sausages, frozen meat, fruits, carpets, tissue paper, furniture, and make-up items has also been banned.
In addition, the banned items include shampoo, goggles, cigarettes, chocolates, bakery products, and musical instruments.
Jams, jellies, shaving utensils, mattresses, sleeping bags, heaters, kitchen utensils, juices, ice cream, sanitary items, and leather goods are also banned.
Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb had claimed that banning the import of these items would reduce the government's import bill by 6 billion.
Thank you for visiting!