FBR proposes amendments to baggage rules: Travellers may not be allowed to bring in goods worth over $1,200

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed amendments to Baggage Rules for imposing restrictions on travellers coming into Pakistan for not bringing over $1,200 worth of goods into the country.

The FBR has shared the draft amendments rules with the stakeholders but it has not yet shared with the public for taking their feedback before announcing formal changes in the Baggage Rules.

The sources said that currently the travellers coming into Pakistan, including overseas Pakistanis, could bring two cellular phones but it is proposed that they might be allowed to bring only one cell phone.

If these changes were formally announced then it might result into granting increased power to Customs authorities in case of those who are traveling to the country. The Customs department would have authority to determine value of belongings such as laptop, watches and other goods to cross the limit of $1,200 for travellers coming into the country.

The second phone could be released on payment of duties and taxes. Any quantity exceeding one phone, other than the one in personal use of the passenger, would not be cleared on payment of duty and fine, and would be out rightly confiscated.

The limit of $1,200 baggage would be applicable for all other items brought by the incoming passengers under the facility. The value of goods brought under the baggage regime by one passenger must be below the value of $1,200.

In this regard, any goods brought into Pakistan under the baggage facility, exceeding value of US$1,200 would be confiscated. According to the proposed notification, the “commercial quantity” means a quantity of goods imported prima facie for trading or pecuniary gain and not for personal use or gift, the value of which exceeds $1,200 and in case of mobile phones quantity exceeding one phone other than the one in personal use of the passenger.

Previously, specific value of commercial quantity of $1,200 was not defined in the Baggage rules. The goods brought in commercial quantity shall not be released on payment of duty, taxes or redemption fine.

When contacted, the FBR high-ups said that the Baggage Rules could be improved when they found any major anomaly or discrepancy in it. They would get feedback and then the rules would be formally amended.