ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has formally allowed the commercial import of used vehicles under a notification issued on 30 September 2026.
Under the new rules, importers must operate as registered companies and be registered taxpayers. All payments must be made through banking channels.
Vehicles imported from Japan will be subject to pre-shipment inspections in line with 62 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) WP.29 regulations.
Once the vehicles arrive in Pakistan, a legal entity will verify the relevant documents.
Separately, Punjab has introduced a one-year restriction on transferring imported vehicles.
Under the new policy introduced by the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department, an imported vehicle must remain registered in the name of the person who imported it for one year from the date of registration.
Previously, buyers could transfer ownership immediately after registration.
Provincial excise officers made it clear that the new restriction applies to imported vehicles registered under all three categories, including personal, gift and residence.
The Excise Department has also updated its registration system to prevent ownership transfers before the one-year period has passed.
Officials say buyers will then have to wait until one year after registration before the vehicle can legally be transferred into their name.
Imported vehicles account for an average of about 20 percent of vehicle registrations in Punjab, according to officials. The department may also face a reduction in revenue as a result of the new policy.
Previously, immediate transfers of imported vehicles generated additional revenue through transfer-related charges.
