ISLAMABAD: The apex revenue collecting agency of Pakistan on Wednesday issued a draft to amend baggage rules.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO 985(I)/2022 to propose amendments to the Baggage Rules, 2006.
The draft proposed to substitute Rule 3 of the Baggage Rules, 2006. According to the substituted rule:
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3. Allowance for Pakistani nationals not availing transfer or residence: The following shall be various allowances for the Pakistani nationals not availing transfer of residence, namely:
A. Items of personal use allowed duty-free on any visit:
(i) personal wearing apparel and clothing accessories;
(ii) one laptop computer; and
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(iii) any other item except mobile phone, following allowances shall be admissible:
| S. No. | Stay Abroad | Value of Duty Free allowance |
| (1) | (2) | (3) |
| (i) | Upto thirty days | Upto four hundred US Dollars (USD 400) |
| (ii) | Between thirty to sixty days | Upto eight hundred US Dollars (USD 800) |
| (iii) | More than sixty days | Upto twelve hundred US Dollars (USD 1200) |
B. Purchases from a Duty Free Shop:
Duty free allowance of the aggregate value upto one hundred US dollars in case the goods are purchased from one of the duty free shops in Pakistan within sixty days of the arrival, and provided that the stay abroad of the passenger is more than sixty days.
The draft also recommended to substitute Rule 4 of the Baggage Rules, 2006, which is:
4. Allowance for Pakistani nationals availing transfer of residence:
A. Duty Free Allowance:
(i) personal household goods generally used by a family.
(ii) second hand or used professional equipment in use of a registered Pakistani practitioner during stay abroad, having proof of registration in the country abroad and duly recognized by the concerned regulatory authority or association:
Provided that an inspection certificate from an internationally recognized inspection agency in the exporting countries to the effect that such equipment is free from bacteria and other material injurious to human health, is furnished at the time of import of the equipment.
(iii) any other item (excluding mobile phones) of the value not exceeding fifteen hundred US dollars; and
(iv) weapon of non-prohibited bore for the personnel of armed forces, customs, police or any other law enforcement agency.
B. Purchases from a duty free shop:
Duty free allowances of the aggregate value upto fifteen hundred US dollars in case the goods are purchased from one of the duty free shops in Pakistan within sixty days of the arrival.
The draft rules amended table in Rule 5 of the Baggage Rules, 2006.
5. Special allowances for Foreign Exchange Remittance Card holders.— In addition to the allowances hereinbefore provided, the duty credit as specified in the Table below shall be admissible to a Pakistani national holding Foreign Exchange Remittance Card (FERC) once in a calendar year. The duty credit can also be utilized for the unaccompanied baggage or any purchase from one of the duty free shops. The duty credit under this scheme shall not be utilizable on import of vehicles.
The proposed amended table is as follow:
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| S.NO. | TYPE OF FERC | AMOUNT REMITTED THROUGH NORMAL BANKING CHANNEL (in US $ or equivalent foreign currency) | DUTY CREDIT IN PAKISTANI RUPEES |
| 1. | Silver | 2500 or more | 20,000 |
| 2. | Silver Plus | 5000 or more | 40,000 |
| 3. | Golden | 10,000 or more | 60,000 |
| 4. | Golden Plus | 25,000 or more | 100,000 |
| 5. | Platinum | 50,000 or more | 200,000 |
The draft also recommended to substitute Rule 6 of the Baggage Rules, 2006, which is:
6. Allowance for foreign nationals and tourists: The following allowance shall be admissible to foreign national and tourist, namely:
(i) personal wearing apparel and clothing accessories; and
(ii) any other item (excluding mobile phones) of the value not exceeding eight hundred US dollars.
