Clearance of banned cars, phones allowed on 100% surcharge

Clearance of banned cars, phones allowed on 100% surcharge

ISLAMABAD: The government has allowed clearance of stuck up consignments of cars and mobile phones on payment of 100 per cent surcharge.

The ministry of commerce on Friday issued an office memorandum regarding prohibition / complete quantitative restrictions on import of non-essential and luxury items.

READ MORE: Pakistan lifts ban on import of cars, phones, luxury items

The ministry said that pursuant to the decision of federal cabinet on August 19, 2022, the federal government had allow release of all those consignments/shipments which had been imported in violation of SRO 598(I)/2022 dated May 19, 2022 and landed at any Pakistani port, subject to payment of surcharge.

The commerce ministry stated that to release those held up consignments, except Completely Built Unit (CBU) Auto, CBU phones and CBU home appliances, which landed after June 30, 2022 and on or before July 31, 2022 subject to payment of 25 per cent surcharge, and 35 per cent surcharge for those consignments which arrived after July 31, 2022.

READ MORE: 15% surcharge imposed for clearance of banned items

Similarly, to release held up consignments of CBU auto, CBU mobile phones and CBU home appliances, which landed after June 30, 2022 and on or before July 31, 2022 subject to payment of 100 per cent surcharge.

The ministry of commerce issued SRO 1562(I)/2022 for lifting the ban on luxury and non-essential items, including motor vehicles, mobile phones and home appliances.

The government on May 19, 2022 through a circular No. 598 (I)/2022 imposed the complete ban on import of such items in the wake of serious balance of payment crisis and to prevent fall in rupee value.

Despite the ban, the rupee fell to the historic low of Rs239.94 against the dollar on July 28, 2022.

It is worth mentioning that the foreign exchange reserves were drastically decreased despite imposition of ban on imported luxury items.