KARACHI: The import of used and old cars massively fell by 55.41 percent during fiscal year 2019/2020 due to condition of payment of duty and taxes through foreign exchange imposed by the government.
The import of used and old cars in Completely Built Unit (CBU) condition fell to $99 million during 2019/2020 as compared with $222 million in the preceding fiscal year, according data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The commercial import of used or old cars is not allowed under prevailing laws of the country. However, in order to facilitate expatriate Pakistanis the government allows incentives to bring cars into the country.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed Pakistani nationals residing abroad including dual nationals can import old and used vehicles into Pakistan under these schemes: Personal Baggage; Gift Scheme; and Transfer of Residence.
The cars not older than three years and other vehicles not older than five years can be imported under these schemes, the FBR said.
These schemes were grossly misused in the past and bulk of imported cars brought into the country.
However, the ministry of commerce in February 2019 amended Import Policy Order, 2016 and made it mandatory for clearance of cars through foreign exchange, which should be certified by banks.
Since then the clearance of the cars has come to a standstill. Customs authorities said that a large number of imported cars were at the port but importer had failed to make payment as per procedure prescribed by the ministry of commerce.
However, later in a meeting of Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) decided to allow payment for duty and taxes for customs clearance of imported cars through local resources with condition that if foreign exchange becomes short due to currency fluctuations or change in duty and tax rates.
The overall import of CBU vehicles during fiscal year 2019/2020 fell by 43 percent. The import of heavy vehicles including buses and trucks has declined by 24.5 percent. While import of CBU motorcycles fell by 71.63 percent.
On the other hand the import of cars as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) condition also fell by 41.57 percent to $478 million during 2019/2020 as compared with $818 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.
Market sources said that massive depreciation in the local currency during past couple of years had increased the cost of local car manufacturers.
Further, the rates of locally assembled cars for end consumers also jumped up sharply.
These factors have reduced the productions of locally manufactured cars and subsequently reduced the import of cars in CKD condition.
The overall import of vehicles in CKD fell by 41.63 percent to $727.52 million during 2019/2020 as compared with $1.24 billion in the preceding fiscal year.
