FBR withdraws notification of amendment in Baggage Rules

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has withdrawn notification of amendments in Baggage Rules, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

According to report, FBR had issued SRO 2024(I)/2028 on December 6, 2024, proposing certain amendments in SRO/2006(1)666 dated June 28, 2006 relating to Baggage Rules. 

This created a false impression that the limit of personal baggage has been fixed at US $1200, and this misconception is circulating in various media outlets in the country.

It is clarified that in the notification, the term “commercial quantity” given in Baggage Rules 2006 was defined in such a way that the limit of goods, which are ostensibly brought for commercial purposes or financial gain, should be fixed at US $1200. 

The amendment proposed in this draft is aimed at preventing misuse of the baggage facility. 

However, as clearly mentioned in the notification, this limit of US $1200 does not apply to items for “personal use or gifts” to a traveler. 

It is therefore clarified that the limit of US $1200 mentioned in the notification does not apply to personal use. The impression that Customs will seize personal belongings worth more than US $1200 is strongly refuted.

Since this notification has been widely misunderstood in the public domain, especially on social media, the draft notification has been withdrawn to prevent further confusion.

Reporter: Waqas Azeem