Islamabad: The government has formally begun reviewing the existing framework for the import of used vehicles, under which it is considering ending the personal baggage scheme altogether, while tightening the conditions and scrutiny for imports made under the gift scheme and the transfer of residence scheme.
The government is examining a proposal to discontinue one of the three available schemes for used car imports—namely, the personal baggage scheme—while preparing to retain the remaining two schemes, but with stricter rules, documentation requirements, and compliance checks.
In this connection, the Ministry of Commerce has prepared a detailed summary and forwarded it to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, recommending that the personal baggage scheme be abolished. The same summary suggests that the other two schemes — the transfer of residence scheme and the gift scheme — should continue, but with tougher conditions so that only genuine beneficiaries are able to use them, and to ensure that misuse of these schemes is effectively curbed through enhanced oversight and control measures.
Senior government sources, speaking on Monday to an English-language newspaper, confirmed that multiple proposals are currently under consideration to tighten the gift and transfer of residence schemes for used car imports, while the personal baggage scheme may be scrapped altogether. The Economic Coordination Committee will review these proposals and, based on the commerce ministry’s summary, take the final decision in this regard.
