New baggage rules for passengers coming from abroad

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced new and stricter baggage rules for passengers coming from abroad to prevent misuse of the facility by commercial entities.

Under the proposed rules, any goods, including mobile phones, exceeding a value of $1,200 per passenger will be confiscated.

The move aims to curb the smuggling of goods under the guise of baggage allowances.

The FBR has introduced draft amendments to the Baggage Rules, 2006, via an S.R.O. 214(1)2024.

According to the notification, incoming passengers will be allowed to bring one used mobile phone for personal use, subject to the payment of applicable duties and taxes if these have not been cleared earlier.

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A second phone may also be released on payment of duties and taxes. However, any additional phones beyond these will be confiscated and will not be cleared, even with payment of duty or fines.

The $1,200 limit applies to all goods brought by passengers under the baggage scheme. Goods exceeding this value will face outright confiscation.

The notification specifies that “commercial quantity” refers to goods imported for trading or financial gain rather than personal use or as gifts, with a value exceeding $1,200. In the case of mobile phones, it includes more than one device beyond personal use.

Goods brought in commercial quantities will no longer be released even on payment of duties, taxes, or redemption fines, according to the notification.