The Economic Survey of Pakistan 2018/2019 stated that the payment for imported vehicles can now be made at the customs stage through foreign remittances received in the account of family members of the sender.
This change is aimed at preventing misuse of the scheme intended for overseas Pakistanis.
Under the revised policy, remittances for the payment of duties and taxes will originate from the account of the Pakistani national sending the vehicle from abroad. The remittance will either be received in the account of the Pakistani national sending the vehicle or, if his account is nonexistent or inoperative, in the account of his family member, as defined in the import Policy Order. This decision was made to reduce the size of the import bill, discourage the import of luxury and non-essential items, and prevent misuse allowed for specific purposes.
Additionally, the government has implemented regulatory measures to ensure quality and standards for imported goods. The Import Policy Order was amended to incorporate safety, health requirements, and quality standards for each tariff line. This move aims to ensure that quality and standards are complied with for imports.
Furthermore, the government has restricted the import of food items only through specified ports and land border posts. These ports, equipped with the necessary infrastructure and human resources, evaluate health safety requirements through the Department of Plant Protection.
Amendments in the Export and Import Policy Order, 2016 have been made to facilitate exporters and importers. These changes, approved by the Cabinet, are the result of consultations with private and public sector stakeholders.
The revised policy for the import of edible products includes conditions such as a product having at least 66 percent of its remaining shelf life, ingredients and details printed in Urdu and English languages on the consumer packaging, and the inclusion of the logo of the Halal certification body on the packaging. Additionally, shipments must be accompanied by a ‘halal certificate’ issued by a Halal Certification Body accredited with an Accrediting Body, a member of the International Halal Accreditation Forum, or the Standards Meteorology Institute for Islamic Countries. However, the operation of the new policy has been suspended until July 01, 2019.
To promote tourism and hunting/sporting activities in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, the government has simplified the process for obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the temporary import-cum-export of hunting arms and ammunition. Foreign hunters with an NOC from the Ministry of Interior for carrying arms and ammunition will now be considered sufficient for temporary import-cum-export of hunting arms. This streamlined process aims to encourage foreign hunters and tourists to engage in sporting activities in the region.
