If you own a registered vehicle in Pakistan, there’s an important new legal update you should know about—your car or bike can now be treated as a smuggled vehicle even if it’s properly registered with the provincial excise department.
Wondering how that’s possible? The key lies in whether your vehicle’s chassis has been tempered or re-stamped.
As of July 1, 2025, a major change has been enforced through the Finance Act, 2025, adding Section 187A to the Customs Act, 1969. This new section makes it very clear: if your vehicle is seized and later found with a tempered, cut-and-weld, or forged chassis number, it will be presumed smuggled by law—regardless of whether it is officially registered.
What Does Section 187A Say?
Let’s break it down:
If a vehicle is detained or seized and, during forensic examination, its chassis is found to be tempered (including re-stamping, welding, or cutting), the vehicle will be treated as smuggled. That means even your fully registered vehicle can be confiscated if there’s any tampering. The FBR may even use such smuggled vehicles for operational purposes within 90 days of confiscation.
Why You Should Be Concerned
Imagine buying a car, completing all the legal registration steps, only to find out later that it had a tempered chassis. That vehicle could be seized without compensation because under the law, it will be assumed to be smuggled—no questions asked.
This makes it more important than ever to thoroughly verify the chassis number before purchasing any vehicle, especially second-hand ones. If a chassis number looks suspicious, altered, or recently welded, walk away from the deal.
What You Can Do
1. Get a professional forensic inspection done if you’re unsure.
2. Avoid buying vehicles without proper documentation.
3. Cross-check registration records with excise departments.
4. Report any suspected tampering to authorities.
In short, even registered vehicles aren’t safe from being labelled as smuggled if the chassis is tempered. So, stay alert, inspect thoroughly, and ensure your vehicle is not just registered—but also genuinely legal.