When it comes to carrying gold jewellery out of Pakistan, the rules are quite specific and tightly regulated by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The export of gold jewellery from Pakistan is generally prohibited, unless certain conditions are met. These restrictions aim to control the outflow of precious items such as gold, jewellery, and precious stones in order to safeguard the country’s financial and cultural assets.
As per Notification No. F.E.3/85-SB dated 15th August 1985, issued by the SBP, any person is allowed to take precious stones or jewellery out of Pakistan, provided the items are not made wholly or mainly of gold. However, strict value limits are imposed based on the destination country. For example, no jewellery is allowed to be taken to India at all without express permission. For neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Iran, a person may carry jewellery worth up to Rs. 1,000, while for all other countries, the upper limit is Rs. 2,000.
Further, there are exceptions for foreign nationals and overseas Pakistanis. If they have brought gold, jewellery, or precious stones into Pakistan and declared them upon arrival, they may take them back when departing. They are also permitted to carry items worth up to $10,000, provided these were purchased using foreign exchange officially brought into the country and converted through legal channels.
There’s a clearly defined process for those wishing to carry gold jewellery exceeding the specified limits. In such cases, an application must be submitted to the State Bank using Form ‘J’. If approved, the traveler is issued a special license which must be presented to Customs at departure. The traveler is then required to bring the items back to Pakistan within a specified period, declare them at Customs upon return, and submit proof of re-entry to the SBP.
In essence, while taking gold jewellery out of Pakistan is possible, it is governed by stringent rules, particularly to India and surrounding regions. Travelers must ensure full compliance with SBP regulations to avoid penalties, including prior declarations, value limitations, and the need for licensing in some cases.