# Used car imports jump 57% to 2,276 in September as EDB eases import rules

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/auto/used-car-imports-jump-57percent-to-2276-in-september-as-edb-eases-import-rules)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 4 Oct 2026
Updated: 4 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 4 Oct 2026

> Almost every used car that landed in September came under the gift scheme, and a 30 September notification lets any tax-registered person import. Parts makers put the loss at Rs 3.4 billion.

Pakistan imported **2,276 used cars in September 2026**, 57% more than the 1,445 in August, and almost all of them (2,238) came in under the gift scheme, [Dawn reported](https://www.dawn.com/news/2034516/local-automakers-voice-concerns-as-imports-of-used-cars-surge-in-sept) on 3 October, citing official data. Local parts makers say every imported car costs them business, and a rule change on 30 September makes importing easier still.

## Used car imports by month, 2026

| Month | Used cars imported | Under gift scheme |
|---|---|---|
| May | 48 | n/a |
| June | 843 | 806 |
| July | 1,938 | 1,876 |
| August | 1,445 | n/a |
| September | 2,276 | 2,238 |

That is 6,550 used cars in five months, most of them since the 2026-27 budget cut duties on completely built units (CBUs) by 20% to 25%.

## What changed on 30 September

An Engineering Development Board (EDB) notification dated 30 September 2026, as reported by Dawn:

- removes the minimum capital requirement for companies importing vehicles;
- lets any tax-registered individual or firm import (SECP registration is no longer needed);
- moves inspection of imported vehicles to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

Dawn also reports that the one-year bar on transferring ownership of an imported car is not being enforced in some cities.

## Why local industry is worried

Abdul Rehman Aizaz, chairman of the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), told Dawn that locally assembled cars contain up to 60% local parts by value, and that the 2,276 imported cars in September meant about Rs 3.4 billion of parts production lost to local vendors.

## If you are thinking of buying an imported used car

- **Check the papers before you pay.** Ask for the bill of entry, the gift scheme documents and the registration. Verify the registration online first: our guide to [online vehicle verification in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and KP](/guides/cars/online-vehicle-verification-in-pakistan-punjab-sindh-islamabad-and-kp-registrati) shows how.
- **Know the transfer rule.** A car imported under the gift scheme carries a one-year restriction on transfer. Buying one inside that year can leave you unable to register it in your name, whatever a dealer says about local enforcement.
- **Work out the full cost.** Add registration and token tax with our [car registration tax calculator](/tools/cars/car-registration-tax-calculator) and [token tax calculator](/tools/cars/token-tax-calculator), and the transfer fee with the [vehicle transfer fee calculator](/tools/cars/vehicle-transfer-fee-calculator).
- **Compare with a new local car.** Our [car price list](/prices/cars) carries makers' official prices, updated as they change.

## Frequently asked questions

**How many used cars did Pakistan import in September 2026?**

2,276, up from 1,445 in August, with 2,238 imported under the gift scheme, according to data reported by Dawn.

## Sources

- Local automakers voice concerns as imports of used cars surge in Sept (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2034516/local-automakers-voice-concerns-as-imports-of-used-cars-surge-in-sept

How to cite: "Used car imports jump 57% to 2,276 in September as EDB eases import rules", Searchable, 4 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/auto/used-car-imports-jump-57percent-to-2276-in-september-as-edb-eases-import-rules