ISLAMABAD, July 22: The government has notified new companies for availing the facility of temporary importation scheme.

According to the Trade Policy 2004-05 released here on Thursday, the government had extended the scope of this scheme to include gas companies, mining companies, their approved contractors and sub-contractors and services companies.

Prior authorization from the ministry of commerce will now no longer be necessary. This facility will cover all specialized used machinery except for passenger transport vehicles, trucks and buses and static road rollers less than 12 tons.

Under the policy, second-hand tools and professional equipment will be temporarily importable for use in initial installation, periodical repairs and refurbishing of projects or plants and machinery in Pakistan; entry and exit of foreign cargo transport vehicles will be allowed provided there is a bilateral or multilateral agreement on reciprocal basis between Pakistan and the foreign country concerned.

Temporary import of goods (including means of transport) under the ATA Carnet Istanbul Convention 1990 will be allowed upon furnishing of temporary admission papers (Carnet, etc.) as due security; temporary import of goods, including means of transport under the TIR Convention, will be permissible subject to fulfilment of all prescribed conditions; temporary import of exhibition materials for fairs and exhibitions officially organized by the government, the FPCCI or chambers of commerce and industry will be allowed.

Import of give ways will also be permissible but on payment of leviable duties, etc., and temporary import of machinery for repair in Pakistan of carpets, sports goods and surgical instruments, etc., will be allowed.

Earlier, under the existing import policy, oil exploration and production companies and construction companies working in Pakistan on projects were allowed to temporarily import certain second-hand or specialized machinery and construction equipment.