ISLAMABAD: Passen­gers arriving at Pakistan’s airports should not be allowed to bring more than one mobile phone, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed.

Last week, the revenue body issued SRO 2028(I)/2024 of draft ame­n­dments to Baggage Rules, 2006 and sought opinions from stakeholders within a seven-day period, which ends on Dec 13.

The FBR has proposed amendments to the definition of “commercial quantity” in rule 2 to restrict the number and worth of items incoming passengers can bring into the country.

Commercial quantity is defined as goods brought “for trading or pecuniary [monetary]” purposes and not personal use.

As per the draft amendments, the value of “commercial quantity” would be capped at $1,200.

If the draft amendments are approved, goods worth more than $1,200 would be considered “commercial quantity” and confiscated.

Similarly, the draft amendment proposes allowing passengers to bring only one mobile phone, in addition to the one already in their personal use, from abroad. It suggested that any other mobile phones in their baggage be confiscated.

Another amendment proposes changes to the process of handling confiscated items.

Earlier, commercial quantity goods seized by authorities were released after the payment of duties or fines.

A document available on FBR’s website currently states that commercial quantity goods would be released after the payment of a fine equal to 30 per cent of the value of goods in addition to duties and taxes.

Now, the FBR has suggested an amendment to rule 17, which reads: “The goods brought in commercial quantity shall not be released on payment of duty, taxes and redemption fine.”

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2024