Can a foreigner register a locally-bought car in Pakistan?

[jhiggs]

Hi everyone,

For a while I've been trying to figure out if it's possible for a foreigner residing and working in Pakistan to register a car bought here (not one imported/brought from overseas, so the "non-privileged national bringing a car" clause doesn't apply here - https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/vehicle-documentation-registration-import-lease/57166-non-privileged-foreign-national and https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/vehicle-documentation-registration-import-lease/6913-foreigner-bringing-car-pak).

A bit of background... I am a foreigner (Australian citizen), not of Pakistani-descent (so I do not have any form of CNIC), with a driver's licence obtained in Karachi. I am not here on a fixed-term contract (I do not know if/when I will return to Australia on a permanent basis), nor am I working at an embassy/high commission/mission. I wish to buy a car here in Pakistan and have it registered under my name.

I read some blog post by a foreigner living in Lahore, where she said that she had to get it registered under a friend's name. I'm not sure if that's true, or whether the rules in Karachi/Sindh are different.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

Thanks!

Jeremy

[Tayyab95]

First of all... Welcome to PAKWHEELS

[akbarlatifkhan]

Yar your will get registerd....u jzt hav to do a litle bribing...!!!

[suneelmunj]

cant register in my opinion unless u have working visa here

[deadvirus_h3]

no

[jhiggs]

@akbarlatifkhan: I'd rather keep it legit, thanks

@suneelmunj: Given that I am working here, I do have a non-tourist, working visa, issued by the Ministry of Interior. Can you suggest how I would go about getting a car registered? Is it any different than for a Pakistani?

[froggyjump]

get the car registered in the name of the company you work for.

[TrueEye]

wouldn't it be much easier for you to directly approach the concerned authorities and discuss the options available to you under the said circumstance...? As I believe, no one here would be in an appropriate position to suggest you a proper course of action...

[jhiggs]

@TrueEye: If that's the easiest option, then I'll go for that. But my experience in dealing with government agencies makes me think that approaching them and enquiring about this isn't going to be a smooth process...

@froggyjump: I'll keep that in mind as an option.

Thanks!

[chinyoti]

The car can be registered. the car would be registered as FN (foriegn National) series. its legal. but the problem is to date they dont issue number plates for FN registered cars. temporary plates are issued with a NOC note. and probably wen u sell the car its sold as un-registered.

my friends a foriegn national has a FN registered car.

and u must have that other card instead of the CNIC. to prove ur identity i suppose.

[chinyoti]

get the car registered in the name of the company you work for.

dont do dis if the car is of ur money, if the company anyhow closes down selling the car can be a misery.

[jhiggs]

The car can be registered. the car would be registered as FN (foriegn National) series. its legal. but the problem is to date they dont issue number plates for FN registered cars. temporary plates are issued with a NOC note. and probably wen u sell the car its sold as un-registered.

my friends a foriegn national has a FN registered car.

and u must have that other card instead of the CNIC. to prove ur identity i suppose.

Do you know for how long those "temporary plates" are valid? Indefinitely?

Obviously I have a passport, which I use as ID, but no CNIC. I'll check it out. Did your friend get it through the normal excise & taxation office?

[chinyoti]

there valid for forever. or mayb there carry forwarded to the next car u buy. by temporary i meant to say that as normal plates are stamped and goverment marked, the reason for the NOC (no objection certificate is there because no police man can object) and ur car is officialy registered wid the FN series u get the registration book with the (FN-xxxx) number on it

PS: im not sure about the actual procedure, pay a visit a civic centre office theyll explain u every thing. its not so problamatec as people say it is.

[chinyoti]

this how it luks.

[jhiggs]

@chinyoti: Thanks! Will do so.

[autophile]

@jhiggs. i work in a foreign company and my current boss and the previous boss both have bought cars here. It is legal. The previous one even purchased an Alto from Orix through leasing and sold it here when he was posted out.

[malikg115]

i belive that if somone has got Pakistani id card or passport,
only he/ she can get registered