15,000 used cars get clearance window

LAHORE: The Ministry of Commerce has issued dual directives introducing structural clarifications and a selective, conditional waiver for used vehicles imported under the Gift and Transfer of Residence schemes. While the decisions aim to resolve intense clearance logjams at ports, they have drawn sharp criticism from the local automotive industry, which warns of severe fiscal and safety ramifications. In an official office memorandum, the ministry addressed a long-standing impasse regarding the validity of Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) certificates. The federal government announced that certificates issued by EAA Company (Pvt) Ltd and Auto Terminal Pak (Pvt) Ltd through their foreign principals in Japan are fully acceptable. This compliance clearance follows their formal registration with the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for automobiles. To prevent fraudulent filings, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and customs authorities must verify the certificates directly with the local offices of these inspection firms, which will carry full legal liability for the declarations. The local entities must also certify that the vehicles strictly comply with environmental, safety, and quality regulations that align with global standards. Local assemblers fear Rs22bn losses, safety risks Concurrently, the ministry issued a statutory notification under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, granting a strict, one-time waiver for vehicles shipped under a Master Bill of Lading between Jan 16 and March 9, 2026. This window bypasses the initial pre-shipment inspection requirement mandated under SRO 61(I)/2026. However, the government clarified that this is not a blanket amnesty. To prevent the dumping of hazardous or structurally compromised vehicles, Customs officials are strictly prohibited from clearing any cars graded on Japanese auction sheets as Below Average (Grade 3), Poor Condition (Grade 2), Repaired Accident (Grade R), or Minor Accident Repair (G