The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), under the Ministry of Finance, has issued an instruction dated May 3, 2025, referencing a Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification from May 2, 2025. This instruction highlights the immediate insertion of a new provision, Para 2.20A, into the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. This new paragraph prohibits the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan. The prohibition is effective immediately and will remain in place until further orders. The stated reasons for this restriction are national security and public policy. Any exceptions to this prohibition require prior approval from the Government of India. The instruction directs customs authorities to inform their officers about this change.
F. No.401/17/2025-Cus.Ill
Government of India
Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
Instruction No. 07/2025-Customs | Dated: 03.05.2025
To
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs/ Customs
(Preventive)/Customs & Central Taxes.
All Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs /Customs (Preventive).
All Pr. Director General/Director Generals under CBIC.
Subject: Prohibition on import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan – Insertion of Para 2.20A of Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023 – reg.
Madam/Sir,
Reference is invited to Notification no. 06/2025-26 dated 02.05.2025 issued by the DGFT under Section 3 read with Section 5 of Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraph 1.02 end 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, as amended from time to time.
2. Vide the aforesaid Notification dated 02.05.2025, a new Para 2.20A has been inserted in Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 as follows with immediate effect:
“Para 2.20A: Prohibition on Import from Pakistan
Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders. This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security arid public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India.”
3. Thus, under Para 2.20A of FTP, 2023, direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan is Prohibited with immediate effects until further orders.
4. In view of the above, it is requested that necessary action may be taken to sensitize officers under your jurisdiction regarding the said matter.
5. The difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board.
Hindi version follows.
Yours faithfully,
(Neeraj Goyal)
OSD (Cus-III)
Email: uscus.3-dor@gov.in
Tele: 011 23094012
