Marriyum announces ban on import of non-essential luxury items under 'emergency economic plan'

Islamabad: Federal Information and Broadctasing Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on Thursday that the government had imposed a ban on the import of 38 non-essential luxury items under an "emergency economic plan".

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, she assured the nation that PM Shehbaz was "working day and night to stabilise the economy".

Aurangzeb said that in light of this, it was decided to impose a ban on the import of all non-essential luxury items. "These items are those which are not in use of the general public," she said as she identified imported vehicles as one such item.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb Thursday said that a blanket ban had been imposed on the import on non-essential luxury items to redress current economic woes under ‘Comprehensive Economic Plan’.

“There has been an emergency situation in the country and people will have to make sacrifices. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is working day and night to provide relief to the masses by resolving their issues,” she said while addressing to a news conference.

Marriyum said a comprehensive economic plan had been formulated under which a fiscal management policy would be introduced to steer the country out of current economic crisis.

The plan would help reduce the country’s reliance on foreign debts, she added.

The minister said it had been decided for the first time that the import of non-essential luxury items would be banned completely.

It included food items, decoration items, imported vehicles, mobile phones, home appliances, fruits, dry fruits, crockery, shoes, door and window items, lightening equipment, sauces, frozen meat, fish and carpets, tissue papers, make-up items, furniture and confectionery brands, shampoos, jams, jelly, sun-glasses, , ice cream, chocolates, musical instruments and cigarettes.

Ban on Imported Items

1. Mobile Phones
2. Home Appliances
3. Fruits and Dry Fruits (except from Afghanistan)
4. Crockery
5. Private Weapons & Ammunition
6. Shoes
7. Chandeliers & Lighting (except Energy Savers)
8. Headphones & Loudspeakers
9. Sauces, Ketchup etc.
10. Doors and Window Frames
11. Travelling Bags and Suitcases
12. Sanitary ware
13. Fish & Frozen Fish
14. Carpets (except from Afghanistan)
15. Preserved Fruits
16. Tissue Paper
17. Furniture
18. Shampoos
19. Automobiles
20. Confectionary
21. Luxury mattresses & sleeping bags
22. Jams & Jelly
23. Cornflakes
24. Bathroom ware / Toiletries
25. Heaters / Blowers
26. Sunglasses
27. Kitchen ware
28. Aerated water
29. Frozen Meat
30. Juices
31. Pasta etc.
32. Ice cream
33. Cigarettes
34. Shaving Goods
35. Luxury Leather Apparel
36. Musical Instruments
37. Saloon items like hair dryers etc.
38. Chocolates

She pointed out that the country was passing through a tough time and facing the malaise due to “economic terrorism” caused by previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

The economic initiatives of current government, she said, would have swift impact on the foreign exchange reserves for the next two months and there would be an annual impact of around $6 billion.

The minister said the foremost priority was to minimize dependency on the import, while an export-oriented economic policy would be introduced to give boost to the local industry which would eventually enhance employment opportunities in the country.

She said the measures under the plan would not only have direct impact on the current account deficit, but also help stabilize the rupee against the dollar.