To avoid the misuse of carnet de-passage/temporary importation of vehicles by foreigners/ex-patriate Pakistanis, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO 533 (I)/2023 on May 8, 2023, amending the temporary importation of vehicles rules covered by Chapter VI of the Customs Rules 2001.
The tax administration has ended the temporary import of duty-free vehicles for abroad Pakistanis, limiting them to only foreign visitors.
The concept of “tourist” has been amended under the new rules, and new procedures have been introduced to rigorously monitor carnet-related information through Pakistan Customs Computerised System and close coordination with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The tourist’s passport will be marked with the carnet documentation to ensure appropriate reconciliation of automobiles imported under the carnet facility.
Previously, travellers could bring vehicles into the country and drive them back to their own country. The most recent revisions under SRO 533 (I) have eliminated the temporary import of vehicles for Pakistani passport holders. Meanwhile, holders of foreign passports will be able to bring vehicles into the nation.
To aid travellers and prevent misuse of the facility, all manual procedures have been replaced with a computerised system. At the same time, a monthly report will be generated to check the status of overstaying vehicles and advise timely sanctions.
In addition, at the end of each month, the person in charge of the customs station of entry will inspect all automobiles that arrived through that station. If records demonstrate that taxes and duties on a vehicle are still outstanding after the retention period has passed, steps will be pursued to reclaim the owed amount. Seizures of vehicles may also be contemplated.
