ISLAMABAD: The federal government has formally removed the five-year age restriction on commercial imports of used vehicles, allowing importers to bring older vehicles into Pakistan, subject to existing regulatory, safety and environmental requirements.
The Ministry of Commerce confirmed the decision in an office memorandum issued on Friday, clarifying that the restriction stands withdrawn with effect from July 1, 2026.
Previously, commercial importers were permitted to import used vehicles no older than five years. The removal of this restriction follows the government’s earlier decision under the National Tariff Policy 2026–27.
According to the memorandum, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had sought clarification from the Ministry of Commerce on October 23 regarding the status of the age restriction after June 30, 2026.
Responding to the FBR, the ministry confirmed that the five-year age limit had been abolished in accordance with the federal cabinet’s decision.
The clarification covers commercial imports under Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) headings 8702, 8703, 8704 and 8711, which include different categories of motor vehicles and motorcycles.
The ministry has not announced any replacement age limit, meaning the previous five-year restriction no longer applies to commercial imports covered by the decision.
However, the relaxation does not exempt importers from other applicable regulations.
Imported vehicles must continue to meet the requirements of Pakistan’s import policy, including environmental and safety standards prescribed by the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Engineering Development Board (EDB).
The decision provides greater flexibility to commercial vehicle importers by removing a key restriction on the age of eligible used vehicles.
The ministry’s latest clarification establishes that the change applies retrospectively from July 1, 2026, rather than from the date of the October 30 memorandum.