ISLAMABAD, October 1, 2026 — The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has raided the office of the Engineering Development Board (EDB) as an investigation continues into a controversial notification that changed rules governing the commercial import of used vehicles in Pakistan.
FIA Seeks Records From EDB
According to sources cited by TechJuice and ProPakistani, an FIA team visited the EDB office and sought records connected to the September 30, 2026 notification. Officials reportedly took phones and laptops from some individuals linked to the matter.
The raid reportedly followed a request from the EDB chief executive for FIA action and access to relevant records. The allegations surrounding the notification remain under investigation, and FIA has been approached for its response.
New Rules Reopen Commercial Used-Car Imports
The controversy centres on changes that reopened commercial imports of used vehicles and altered the eligibility requirements for importers.
Under the new framework, proprietorships and partnership firms with valid National Tax Number (NTN) and sales tax registration can commercially import used vehicles. Previously, commercial importers were required to be companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 2017.
The notification also removed an earlier requirement under which minimum capital requirements were to be determined by the Federal Cabinet.
Vehicle Inspection Rules Also Changed
Another major change concerns the inspection process for imported used vehicles.
Importers are now required to obtain a pre-shipment inspection certificate from an internationally accredited inspection company registered with the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). After the vehicles arrive in Pakistan, documents are to be verified by the local representative of the same inspection company.
The arrangement differs from the framework introduced in September 2025, which required third-party post-shipment inspections at an EDB-designated facility at the importer’s expense.
Around 15,000 Vehicles Reportedly at Karachi Port
The dispute has gained attention because around 15,000 used vehicles are reportedly currently at Karachi Port and could be affected by the revised notification. Sources have raised concerns about how the vehicles will be inspected before being cleared.
The notification retains 62 UNECE WP.29 safety and environmental regulations, while changing several requirements related to commercial importers and vehicle inspection.
The Economic Coordination Committee had previously deferred the matter and called for further work on the EDB’s inspection system. Questions have consequently been raised about the approval process behind the latest notification.
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Officer Behind Notification Removed
The controversy has also resulted in action against the officer who signed the disputed notification. Sources reported that the officer was removed from the position with immediate effect.
Claims of an alleged connection between used-car importers and EDB officials have also emerged, but these allegations have not been established and remain part of the ongoing investigation. FIA’s official response to the reported raid was still awaited in the cited reports.
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