Pakistani expatriates in the UAE can now send home five-kilo parcels without paying customs duty if the contents are not worth more than Dh635 (Rs10,000).
This is possible courtesy of a new courier service introduced recently.
"There will be no customs duty on these parcels," said Mohammad Murad Almazmi, managing director of Sonic Express, general sales agent of Pakistan Post in Dubai.
An agreement between the courier company and Pakistan Post has been signed to assist the expatriate community in the UAE.
He said Pakistani residents in the UAE can send small parcels of personal effects in the specially designed five-kilo Sonic Express box to all major Pakistani cities and the remotest villages.
"This is the first time that such a service has been introduced by Pakistan Post in the UAE or, for that matter, anywhere in the world," he said.
He said the facility will be expanded to include Pakistani residents in other GCC countries. "We also have plans to introduce similar services to Bangla-desh, Sri Lanka and India."
Roshan Akhtar, chief executive of the courier company, said: "We hope to uplift at least 200 parcels every day with a gradual increase in numbers in the near future.
"Earlier, Pakistan Post allowed customs-free parcels of gift items worth only Rs1,000 (about Dh64) but on our request they have agreed to waive customs on parcels containing any gift items worth up to Rs10,000," he said.
The parcels, he said, will be delivered to the door-steps of the recipients within four days in such major cities as Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore and within five working days in any other place in Pakistan.
"It is not necessary for the recipients to have telephone numbers as the postal address will be enough for the delivery of the parcel."
Pakistan Post will deliver the parcels.
The cost of sending a five-kilo parcel is Dh95. Those interested can either contact the courier service or call its agents for the free collection service.
