Pakistan’s New Plan to Combat Vehicle Smuggling

KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has restricted the use of smuggled and tampered automobiles by government officials to curb the misuse of authority.

This policy ensures that Customs workers cannot use the thousands of impounded vehicles under their control for their own benefit.

The authorities have canceled the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for all of the government officials’ cars, limiting their usage of smuggled tempered vehicles within the department.

Provincial Custom Intelligence Offices are reportedly limited to a fleet of no more than ten vehicles.

Pakistan Customs personnel are abusing their position of power by utilizing the thousands of impounded vehicles in their possession, including tempered vehicles that have been smuggled in. This regulation was put in place to prevent such abuse.

The Islamabad Customs Intelligence office is now limited to a maximum of 12 automobiles, whereas the nearby cities of Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar are each granted permission to use up to 10 cars. Accountability and openness within the government agency are the goals of the new policy.

The FBR had previously suggested revised regulations regarding the importation of automobiles. Moreover, the FBR proposed new regulations for the temporary import of automobiles brought into Pakistan by tourists in a revised version of the country’s Customs Rules 2001.

According to an FBR notification published today, tourists can now retain their vehicles in Pakistan duty-free for up to three months, as long as certain conditions are followed.

Any foreign nationals planning to drive their own vehicles into Pakistan are required by the FBR’s notice to sign a document stating they will not sell or otherwise transfer ownership of the vehicle while in the nation.