by: Arshad Ahmad
The Government of Pakistan has made the vehicle gift scheme procedure simple and transparent for Overseas Pakistanis. Overseas Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia and other countries can send used cars to their close relatives (blood relatives) in Pakistan once in two years.
This can be of two types which include Gift Scheme and Personal Baggage i.e. personal belongings to be sent at the exit. The vehicle sent under this scheme which is a five-seater should not be more than three years old and a seven-seater should not be more than five years old.
The Commercial Section of the Pakistani Embassy or Consulate issues a vehicle import form under which a vehicle can be gifted to a blood relative in Pakistan. The concerned spokesperson of the consulate told Urdunews that the general impression among people is that the vehicle sent under the gift scheme will be duty-free, but this is not the case, however, customs duty is charged on the basis of the old vehicle. In order to pay the customs duty, the person sending the vehicle from the country must also transfer the duty amount from outside.
Duty will be collected on vehicle arrival in Pakistan.
Additionally, on the arrival of the vehicle in Pakistan, the customs authorities calculate the duty on the vehicle based on the letter issued by the embassy or consulate. Thus the vehicle transfer process is completed.
Remember that overseas Pakistanis are allowed to import a vehicle once after two years and this vehicle can be sent to Pakistan as a gift to a close relative.
There is no minimum monthly income limit for sending a vehicle to Pakistan, but the applicant must have stayed in the country continuously for two years or more.
Documents for Car Gift Scheme
1- Copy of Iqama.
2- Monthly income certificate attested by the Chamber of Commerce.
3- A copy of the passport stamped for the first visit to Saudi Arabia.
4- A vehicle being gifted in Pakistan i.e. photocopy of the identity card of the nominated person.
Forms for Car Gift Scheme will be issued from the Commercial Section of the Embassy and Consulate. It should be noted that the vehicle gift scheme procedure has been simplified. The letter is being issued immediately by the embassy or consulate after submitting the required attested documents.
Consulate sources say that vehicles in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries are left-hand drives. Expatriates can book a car from Dubai or any other country by taking a letter from the consulate. Left-hand drive vehicles can be converted to right-hand drive, but it takes time.
