FBR Removes New Baggage Rule on Items Worth Over $1200 From Website After Pressure

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has removed Baggage Rules 2006 amendments from its website after facing back-breaking pressure from different quarters. It is important to mention that the FBR has yet not rescinded the draft notification but only removed it from the website. However, sources informed ProPakistani that the notification itself will be withdrawn as well. The draft of proposed amendments had stated, “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”. Sources said the tax machinery will likely rescind this notification and not move forward with such a rule. The amended rules mandated overseas Pakistanis or international travelers coming to Pakistan to forfeit their goods at customs and to make payment of adequate duty/taxes to get them back. FBR had asked for objections or suggestions for consideration of the Board to be sent within seven days of publication of the notification in the official Gazette. A day after publication, FBR today deleted the notification from its website after facing massive pressure.