The federal government has formally allowed the commercial import of used vehicles through a notification issued on September 30, 2026.
According to media reports, under the notification, importers must hold a properly registered company and be tax filers. All payments must be made through banking channels.
Vehicles will undergo pre-shipment inspection in Japan in line with 62 UNECE WP-29 regulations. After shipment, a legal entity in Pakistan will verify the documents.
Yesterday, Punjab introduced a new policy requiring owners of imported vehicles to wait one year before transferring them to another person.
Under the new rules, imported vehicles will initially be registered only in the name of the importer, and can be transferred to a buyer only after one year from the date of registration.
Previously, vehicles imported under personal, gift and residence schemes could be transferred immediately after registration.
The Excise Department has introduced a system-based check to enforce the requirement, under which ownership transfers will remain automatically blocked until the mandatory one-year period is completed.
Officials said imported vehicles account for around 20 percent of total vehicle registrations in Punjab, and that the restriction could have a significant impact on the department’s revenue.
