KARACHI, Jan 7: Around 9,565 vehicles of various categories were imported during the first half of the current fiscal (July-December 2007) having a value of Rs4.883 billion as against 13,956 units in complete built conditions with a value of Rs6.294 billion imported in the corresponding period last year.

According to official figures, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected around Rs3.307 billion towards customs duty on import of these vehicles compared with Rs3.178 billion materialised in the same period last year.

A total of Rs3.552 billion were spent on import of non-commercial vehicles, numbering 7,909 units and they fetched around Rs2.622 billion in customs duty.

It is interesting to note that last year when a higher number of vehicles were imported, collection of customs duty was lesser at Rs3.178 billion and this year when a smaller number of vehicles were imported, collection towards customs duty is higher at Rs3.307 billion.

A highest number of 6,540 vehicles was imported under personal baggage scheme and it is also interesting to see that of these cars, up to 1000cc engine power were largest in quantity at 3,761.

Cars having engine power between 1301 and 1500cc stood second in number at 647 units.

However, it is equally astonishing that the number of luxury cars, having engine power between 1801 and 3000cc, and imported during this period, also stood fairly high at 548 units while four wheel driven jeeps also remained very high at 855 units, thereby wasting national resources in a country where millions have to sleep with single meal in a day.

The figures further disclosed that cars with engine power between 1001 and 1300cc numbered at 390 units and those having engine power between 1601 and 1800cc were 301.

Different vehicles imported under personal baggage scheme having a value of Rs2.466 billion fetched around Rs1.868 billion towards customs duty.

Similarly, under transfer of residence scheme, 167 vehicles were imported with a value of Rs33.553 million and customs duty realised on them was Rs27.145 million.

Under gift scheme, three vehicles having engine power between 1000 and 1500cc and two four-wheel driven jeeps were

imported during the period under review.

New vehicles imported during this period were 1,197 compared to 901 units imported in the same period last year.

Their value stood at Rs1.049 billion and paid Rs723 million towards customs duty.

In total, 1656 commercial vehicles were imported. Of these, 19 were dumper trucks imported under transfer of residence and 11 under other scheme where only new units could be imported.

However, a very large number of 929 brand new pickups were imported with a total value of Rs800 million and customs authorities collected Rs492 million towards customs duty. Around 237 new vans with a value of Rs185 million were imported and some other commercial vehicles under transfer of residence and personal baggage scheme were also imported during first six months of current fiscal.