ISLAMABAD — As part of the upcoming federal budget for 2025-26, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance has given its approval to a landmark proposal aimed at curbing the trade and use of vehicles with tampered chassis numbers or unauthorized seals.
The decision was made during a recent committee meeting chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, where Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial briefed members on the growing challenges posed by smuggled and tampered vehicles.
According to the proposal, any vehicle with an altered chassis number or an unauthorized replacement seal will be officially classified as illegal and smuggled property. Furthermore, the registration of such vehicles with any motor registration authority will also be considered unlawful.
“Once such a tampered vehicle is seized, it will be confiscated and destroyed within 30 days,” Langrial informed the committee. “There will be no auction or reuse of these vehicles to prevent their parts from circulating in the market.”
The FBR chairman emphasized that spare parts from tampered vehicles often pose significant safety risks to consumers and facilitate the illegal automotive trade. “If we don’t destroy these vehicles entirely, their parts will find their way back into the market, perpetuating crime and endangering lives,” he warned.
While the proposal has been praised by law enforcement and regulatory bodies, it has sparked concern among car owners and enthusiasts, particularly those who purchased such vehicles in good faith through legal channels in the past. The FBR clarified that no exemptions will be granted under the proposed regulation, making it clear that all such vehicles will face mandatory destruction regardless of ownership history.
