KARACHI: Government has lifted ban on all import of luxury and non-essential items.
The ministry of commerce issued SRO 1562(I)/2022 for lifting the ban on luxury and non-essential items, including motor vehicles, mobile phones and home appliances.
The government on May 19, 2022 through a circular No. 598 (I)/2022 imposed the complete ban on import of such items in the wake of serious balance of payment crisis and to prevent fall in rupee value.
Despite the ban, the rupee fell to the historic low of Rs239.94 against the dollar on July 28, 2022.
It is worth mentioning that the foreign exchange reserves were drastically decreased despite imposition of ban on imported luxury items.
Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have increased by $52 million by week ended August 12, 2022. The foreign exchange reserves of the country have recorded at $13.613 billion by week ended August 12, 2022 as compared with $13.561 billion a week ago i.e. August 05, 2022.
The country’s foreign exchange reserves hit all-time high of $27.228 billion on August 27, 2021. Since then the foreign exchange reserves have declined by $13.615 billion.
The official foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank witnessed an increase of $67 million to $7.897 billion by week ended August 12, 2022 as compared with $7.83 billion a week ago.
The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank witnessed a record high at $20.146 billion by week ended August 27, 2021. Since then the official reserves of the SBP declined by $12.249 billion.
The country has taken the decision in order to fulfil the condition of International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get loans.