Pakistan Car Import Policy 2026: Personal Baggage Scheme Abolished

Pakistan has officially abolished the Personal Baggage Scheme for used vehicle imports, changing how overseas Pakistanis can bring cars into the country. The federal government implemented the change through SRO 61(I)/2026, issued by the Ministry of Commerce on January 15, 2026, after approval by the Economic Coordination Committee and federal cabinet. 

The decision is aimed at limiting the commercial misuse of schemes originally designed for genuine personal vehicle imports. For overseas Pakistanis, the practical result is straightforward: the Personal Baggage route is gone, while the Gift Scheme and Transfer of Residence Scheme remain subject to tighter conditions.

What Changed in Pakistan’s Used Car Import Policy?

The biggest change is the removal of Personal Baggage from the Import Policy Order. Overseas Pakistanis can no longer use that scheme to import used cars in Pakistan.

The two remaining schemes now come with stricter safeguards, including a longer interval between eligible imports, a one-year restriction on transferring an imported vehicle, stronger safety and environmental requirements, and a country-of-residence condition for Transfer of Residence imports.

Key Changes at a Glance

These changes are directly reflected in SRO 61(I)/2026, including the removal of Personal Baggage references, the 850-day provision and the one-year non-transferability condition. 

What Does the 850-Day Rule Mean?

One important detail is easy to misunderstand. The amended policy defines the relevant “last three years” period as 850 days from the date the Goods Declaration for the previous import was filed. In other words, the 850-day figure is tied to the interval governing another eligible import or gift, rather than simply meaning that every applicant must have lived abroad continuously for 850 days. 

This distinction matters because online explanations often combine the overseas-stay requirement and the waiting period into one rule. Anyone planning an import should check the applicable eligibility conditions against the current Import Policy Order rather than relying on a simplified social-media summary.

Gift and Transfer of Residence Schemes Still Exist

The government has not closed every route for overseas Pakistanis to bring used vehicles into Pakistan. The Gift Scheme and Transfer of Residence Scheme remain, but they are now designed to make frequent or commercially motivated imports more difficult. 

Under the amended rules, vehicles imported through these schemes cannot be sold or transferred for one year from the date of importation. The Transfer of Residence route also requires the vehicle to come from the same country where the overseas Pakistani resides. 

Why Did the Government Remove Personal Baggage?

The policy change is primarily about preventing personal-import channels from being used as a commercial supply route. The National Assembly record specifically links the abolition to concerns about misuse for commercial purposes. 

The tighter rules also make quick resale less attractive. By combining the abolition of Personal Baggage with an 850-day import interval and a one-year transfer restriction, the government has substantially narrowed the scope for repeated vehicle imports and short-term trading through these schemes.

What Does This Mean for Used Car Buyers in Pakistan?

The biggest potential effect is on the supply of imported used cars, particularly vehicles that have traditionally entered Pakistan through overseas-import channels. If fewer vehicles reach the local market, buyers could face less choice and stronger prices for desirable imported models.

However, higher prices are not guaranteed. Actual pricing will depend on import volumes, existing dealer inventory, exchange rates, duties, local production, and consumer demand. The more defensible conclusion is that tighter import channels can put upward pressure on scarce imported used-car stock.

For buyers, this makes the condition and history of an already-available imported car more important. If you are considering a used vehicle, a proper car inspection and documentary verification can help you compare an existing car on the market against its asking price rather than buying simply because imported inventory is becoming harder to find.

What Should Buyers Do Now?

If your priority is an imported used car, do not assume that every vehicle advertised as “fresh import” represents the same value. Check the car’s documentation, ownership history, physical condition, mileage indicators, and accident or repair history before making a decision.

This is where services such as Wise Wheels’ used-car buying and selling support, 200+ point car inspection reports, and auction sheet verification can be relevant. An inspection can identify mechanical, structural, and cosmetic issues, while auction sheet verification is particularly useful when evaluating a Japanese imported vehicle’s reported history. These checks are not substitutes for customs or legal eligibility verification, but they can reduce the risk of paying an inflated price for a questionable car.

The Bottom Line for Pakistan’s Auto Market

The abolition of the Personal Baggage Scheme is one of the clearest changes to Pakistan’s used-car import framework in 2026. The government has kept the Gift and Transfer of Residence routes open, but the new restrictions make them substantially less flexible and harder to use for repeated or commercial-style imports. 

For buyers, the immediate issue is not simply whether imported cars will become more expensive. It is whether the reduced flow of imported vehicles changes availability, choice and the value of cars already sitting in the local market. That makes careful inspection, history verification and price comparison more important than ever.

Keep reading Wise Wheels blogs for practical updates on Pakistan’s used-car market, vehicle buying decisions, inspections, auction sheet verification and the latest automotive policy changes.