Amnesty scheme: Verification of non-custom paid vehicles kicks off

Rigorous process making it hard to legalise stolen cars.

ISLAMABAD:

Those who thought it would be a breeze to legalise their cars after an amnesty scheme was announced last month are finding the verification process a deterrent. While the capital’s Excise and Taxation Department has started verification of non-custom paid vehicles after receiving applications from across the county, there are far fewer than previously estimated.

The excise office has received 237 applications from across the country and we have started the verification process, said Excise and Taxation Department Director Naila Baqar. The director told The Express Tribune that the department had engaged with the police and customs department to verify vehicles which will have to be cleared by a laboratory. “We have forwarded the list of these vehicles to these departments for verification and after clearance, registration books will be issued,” she added.

She said that the verification process would take two months after which registration books would be issued, adding that laboratory clearance is the most important step. The official said when the policy was initially announced a large number of people turned up at the laboratory to get their vehicles checked, but those who failed to get clearance because of their vehicles’ tampered registration dropped out. The officials said that during the verification two vehicles were found with fake registration and the Margalla Police had registered cases against their owners.

Sources close to the development said that the excise office had received few applications due to the rigorous verification process. According to sources there are influential owners with political connections among the 237 applicants and it was likely that many fake vehicles will be seized during the verification process.

In March, the previous government had approved an amnesty scheme allowing owners to legalise smuggled cars.

The Federal Board of Revenue had allowed 60-70 per cent depreciation in the value of used cars for assessment of duty to used cars not older than five years. March 31 was the last date to avail this opportunity but the caretaker prime minister had extended the date till April 6. After the policy was announced, the prices of vehicles doubled in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2013.