Criticism and pressure from various parts have made the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) remove the proposed amendment to Baggage Rules 2006 from its website.
Even as the alert has been taken off the site, FBR has not yet formally revoked the notification. But, the draft notification said to be washed out completely according to sources.
The modifications also included a definition for “commercial quantity” regarding goods valued over $1,200, as importation that would be classified from such amount onwards would be imports for trade or profit and not personal consumption or gift. For instance, among mobile phones, any quantity exceeding one mobile phone, in addition to the one considered for personal use, was to fall under this provision.
According to the amendments, all international travelers or overseas Pakistanis must lose their goods in customs unless they pay duties and taxes for reclaiming them.
The draft was published in the official Gazette, inviting objections or suggestions within seven days by the FBR. The draft was removed from the FBR website within just a day after its release with a high backlash and criticism.
Sources say that the FBR will not proceed any further on such rules and will likely withdraw the notification formally soon.
