@Shani606: Unfortunately the Govt has once again slapped a blanket ban on the import of cars over 3 years old. No exceptions.
Prior to June 2007, the ban was still in place but it was restricted to cars 5 years and older. However, here was an alternative in which if you paid a fine, being a certain percentage (I think 10%) of the total customs duty levied on the car, you could bring in anything you wanted, irrespective of age. At the time Symboite brought in his Mustang, which was over 2 years back, there was no ban in place, hence he escaped paying that fine. I however was also lucky in the sense that I purchased my '61 Thunderbird convertible in the US in Feb, 2007 and it was shipped in the first week of March and arrived in Karachi the first week of April. It took approximately 1 week for the car to be cleared from the port and the fine was what I had anticipated and I paid it without any issues. All the horror stories I had heard about the nightmare of importing a car and clearing it did not befall me as it was the most painless experience I ever went through. Everything was done quickly, efficiently and properly and my car did not receive as much as a scratch on it. I was most satisfied and for the record, I recommened Sea King Shipping Agencies to those who consider importing a car, albeit very difficult now.
Its ridiculous that the Govt cannot stick to one decision and keeps changing its automobile import policy every year and the VCCCP aims to approach the Govt with the request that cars 40 years and older be allowed to be imported into Pakistan under the definition of 'classic cars'. It is feared by the local manufacturers that the import of used cars will hamper and effect the sale of their vehicles, and it does if you consider the quality and durability of what is being made locally and its fairly obvious that people would prefer to import a used foreign assembled car than a new locally assembled one simply because they are more affordable and locally made cars are rubbish qualitywise. That is why the local manufacturers cried foul and exercised their 'influence' once again to stop the import of cars.
We are saying that the import of cars of 40+ years will not in any way effect the sale of locally made cars simply because those cars come under a totally different category. They would not be used for daily use and commuting and only occasionally and to promote this hobby. Further, these classic cars do not come under the ambit and definition of 'used' or 'reconditioned' or 'second hand'. The Govt has called all cars over 3 to 5 years old as 'used'. These cars are 'classics' and need to be categorised as such and are only favoured by a select niche who understand and appreciate what they really are.
So far the Govt has been very responsive to the VCCCP and its efforts and hence, we are optimistic that they will consider putting cars over 40 years old under a seperate category different from cars considered to be used, reconditioned and second hand.
