ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has approved 19 regulatory amendments, proposed by the commerce ministry, seeking ban on some of importable goods and allowing elite to import vintage cars.

The decision is now expected to be notified through an Import Statuary Regulatory Order next week, an official source told Dawn on Saturday.

Vintage cars of age over 50 years and less than 75 years will be allowed for import. Normally, the cars made in 1911-1930, are considered to be ‘vintage era’.

Currently, government only allows used cars of age three years.

Contrary to this, the ministry has sought ban on import of a number of products either to provide protection to the local industry or considering their import as injurious to health. All the decisions were approved in principle and will be announced through import order next week, the official added.

The premier has approved that the import of auto pilot circuits be restricted to authorised agencies etc to check the access of unwanted element to the technology. The premier has also approved unrestricted import of second-hand motorised wheel-chairs and five-year-old used or second-hand ambulances with a view to help the health sector.

For the leather garments industry, two per cent of export proceeds would be allowed to manufacturers-cum-exporters for duty-free import of accessories for value-addition of leather garments and made-ups by the same exporters.

The commerce ministry has also proposed that import of non-hazardous plastic scrap by industrial consumers be allowed for their use in industries as raw material subject to fulfillment of certain conditions.

However, the ministry proposed complete ban on import of plastic scrap, hospital waste, used sewerage pipes and chemical containers.

Complete ban will be imposed on import of job lot and stock lot goods, restricting import of non-sterilised surgical needles and syringes to industrial units; condition of Euro-II may be made applicable on import of all types of specialised vehicles, such as crane-mounted lorries, dump trucks, mixture lorries, etc.

All goods of banned list imported in commercial quality shall be allowed re-export at importer/shipping lines’ cost. The imported sub-standard goods of the restricted list should be destroyed within a period of six months without offering any release.

Currently, imports in violation of import policy order are confiscated or in some cases allowed to be released against redemption fine. This clearance will not be allowed any more.

Import of waste and scrap of tyres in completely shredded/cut form up to a maximum width of 7 centimetres will only be allowed to industrial consumers for use as alternate fuel.

At the same time, other types of rubber waste and scrap may continue to be imported with the condition of completely cut into pieces.

Pakistan standards are being made part of the Import Policy Order in a gradual manner to ensure that imported goods are in conformity with Pakistani standards. Therefore, all domestic standards will equally apply to imported goods as well.

Construction, engineering and electrical companies will be allowed to retain abroad the exported machinery to carry out work on export-cum-import basis with the condition that they will import the same on the conclusion of the contract against indemnity bond.

The ministry also proposed confiscation of stolen goods and slapping of ban on import of such goods, proposing ban on CFC-based air-conditioning machines.

All exporters of edible products are to be registered, and vegetable ghee and cooking oil exports be allowed in packaging of up to 25kg. The limit is being introduced to encourage value-addition.