KARACHI: An Interior Ministry policy notification has been issued which pertains to the import, modification and ownership of armored vehicles and reveals that ordinary citizens aged 25 or above are eligible to have armored vehicles. The policy states that every Pakistani citizen would be able to have own armored vehicles provided they are at least 25 years of age, with good mental health, and haven’t been nominated in any ongoing investigations or convicted of a crime. In addition, they demand to be tax filers possessing a valid identity card, must have a national tax number, and have not already obtained authorization for two bulletproof vehicles. The applications must have paid at least Rs10 million in taxes per annum will be processed on a priority basis and issued in 10 days after submission of all relevant documents, the policy states. The new policy supplants all previous policies and also instructs the rules set for public bodies, armoring companies, foreign missions and international organizations. Armoring companies submitting applications must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, must possess an NTN, file annual tax returns and provide bank statements, and provide documentary proof of a company plot or location. In addition, the details of machinery and equipment as per defined standards must be provided along with a no-objection certificate issued by security agencies, and details of qualified and skilled manpower. The applications of firms that have filed at least Rs50m in taxes per annum will be processed on an expedited basis, the policy says. The Interior Ministry’s policy applies to all armored vehicles except those owned by the Pakistan armed forces.
Published in Daily Times, January 19th 2018.
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