ISLAMABAD, June 15, 2025 — In a bold crackdown on illicit auto trade, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a major reform in the Finance Bill, 2025, declaring that all tempered vehicles—regardless of their registration status—will now be treated as smuggled vehicles.
The proposed amendment introduces Section 187A to the Customs Act, 1969, which aims to plug long-standing loopholes exploited by traffickers and unscrupulous importers. According to the new provision, any vehicle found with a tampered chassis number, altered body, cut-and-weld modification, or re-stamped chassis will be automatically presumed as smuggled, even if it is registered with a Motor Registration Authority.
This sweeping change was approved a day earlier by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance during its review of the Finance Bill, 2025. FBR Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial, speaking to the committee, emphasized a zero-tolerance approach: “Such vehicles are not just illegal—they’re dangerous. They will be seized and destroyed. These tempered vehicles will never go to auction again. Ideally, they should be set on fire to prevent resale of parts.”
To ensure swift action, the committee recommended that all confiscated vehicles falling under this definition must be destroyed within 30 days of seizure. Chairman Langrial reiterated that FBR is committed to preventing tempered vehicles from re-entering the market in any form.
During the session, the committee raised sharp questions. One senator asked the FBR to disclose how many confiscated vehicles are currently being used by customs officers. Another queried why duties and taxes were collected on such tempered vehicles during the last amnesty scheme for non-duty-paid cars.
In response, FBR Member Customs explained that the newly inserted Section 187A explicitly clarifies the legal status of a vehicle. If a forensic examination reveals any tampering—such as a chassis number being welded over, re-stamped, or replaced—it shall be legally deemed smuggled and subject to immediate confiscation, regardless of prior registration or import clearance.
The move signals a new era of enforcement, as FBR steps up efforts to eliminate the circulation of illegal and unsafe vehicles in Pakistan’s automotive market.