The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to bar travellers coming from abroad from bringing any goods beyond $1,200 in value, it emerged on Monday.

An FBR notification dated December 6, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, proposed changes in the Baggage Rules, 2006, under Section 219 of the Customs Act, 1969.

It changed the definition of “commercial quantity” in the rules from a quantity of goods imported prima facie for trading or pecuniary gain and not for personal use or gift and imposed a value limit of $1,200.

It also defined the commercial quantity for mobile phones as the “quantity exceeding one phone other than the one in personal use of the passenger”.

Regarding penalties for those bringing in the commercial quantity of goods, the notification said the goods would not be released even on payment of duty, taxes and redemption fine.

The notification said that any objections or suggestions to the FBR for consideration should be sent within seven days of the notification’s publication in the official Gazette.

Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

AJK outlook
13 Aug, 2026

AJK outlook

AS the staggered polls for the AJK Legislative Assembly enter their final stretch, it appears that the PML-N is in a...
Food costs
13 Aug, 2026

Food costs

THE State Bank’s warning that domestic food prices could rise more than expected in the near term deserves urgent...
Denied a future
13 Aug, 2026

Denied a future

FIVE years after the Taliban returned to Kabul, the world is still issuing statements while a generation of Afghan...
Mideast outreach
Updated 12 Aug, 2026

Mideast outreach

OVER the past few days, Pakistan has been going the extra mile to assure Iran that the Makkah Joint Defence ...
Nutrition emergency
12 Aug, 2026

Nutrition emergency

MALNUTRITION has become one of the biggest obstacles to Pakistan’s development. Around 40pc of children under five...
Housing deficit
12 Aug, 2026

Housing deficit

THE federal cabinet’s zoning directive has the potential to be the most consequential decision in the redefinition...