Commercial Quantities of Goods
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has recently announced a decision to impose a ban on bringing commercial quantities of goods from abroad.
According to reliable sources, this new regulation aims to curb the practice of importing goods under the guise of personal luggage, especially when they are intended for commercial purposes.
However, the new rules will make an exception for mobile phones, as individuals will still be permitted to bring them for personal use.
The new policy establishes that any imported goods valued at more than $1,200 will fall under the category of commercial trade.
Under this framework, all mobile phones brought into the country will be subject to strict regulation; travelers will only be allowed to retain one mobile phone for personal use, while any additional mobile phones will be confiscated by customs authorities.
Even if travelers attempt to declare extra goods with the payment of duty, taxes, and penalties, these items will still not be cleared under the new policy.
The primary goal of this regulation is to eliminate smuggling operations and prevent goods meant for commercial purposes from entering the market by exploiting personal baggage allowances.
According to sources, the FBR has already proposed amendments to the Baggage Rules 2006 in line with this new ban and is currently seeking input from all relevant stakeholders. A seven-day window has been allocated for feedback from these parties, with late submissions explicitly disregarded.
This feedback period is a crucial step, as the FBR has stressed that only timely submissions will be reviewed.
If no significant changes or suggestions are proposed within the stipulated seven days, the new rules will be enacted through a formal gazette notification.
This move will make the ban effective, bringing greater transparency and stricter enforcement to the movement of goods across borders.
Additionally, travelers planning to bring goods that exceed the set monetary value will be required to pay the applicable duties, taxes, and penalties in order to have these items cleared.
These new measures highlight the government’s efforts to strengthen border control mechanisms and ensure that trade policies are not exploited for commercial gain under personal baggage exemptions.
