Foreign Exchange Remittance Card

Remittances by Overseas Pakistanis, through normal banking channels, are a vital source of balance of payments support for the country. Funds channeled through Hundi or other means bypass legal conduits and deprive the country of much needed support. Cognizant of the problem of diminishing home remittances the government has initiated concerted program to facilitate those Overseas Pakistanis who remit money through normal banking channels.

Towards this end, a special package of Foreign Exchange Remittance Card (FERC) has been implemented By Ministry of Finance in September 2001 to facilitate the Overseas Pakistan Community. OPF has been assigned the task to issue FER Cards.

Overseas Pakistanis remitting Foreign currency equivalent to US$ 2500 to US$ 50,000 per annum are entitled to five categories of Remittance Cards as per amount remitted.

Duty Credit in Pak. Rupees as per category of remittance card. 

Incentives

Overseas Pakistanis remitting foreign currency equivalent to US$2500 to US$ 50,000 per annum are entitled to the following incentives;

• Five categories of remittance cards as per amount remitted
• Separate Counters for special handling at arrival and departure lounges at all International Airports in Pakistan.
• Free Issuance and Renewal of passport on urgent basis.
• Duty Credit as per category of remittance card.
• Duty credit can also be utilized for seven items with fixed duty i.e., television, deep freezer, refrigerator, microwave oven, cooking range, washing machine and air conditioner.

The duty credit can be redeemed against the duty payable on:

• Accompanied baggage
• Unaccompanied baggage, or
• Purchases from one of the duty free shops in Pakistan.
• However, the said duty credit cannot be redeemed against import of vehicles.

The redemption of the duty credit shall be endorsed by the Customs Official on the Passport of the Foreign Exchange Remittance Card holder with the following details:

• Date and flight number
• FERC No. date and place of issue
• Amount of credit available and amount of credit utilized
• Name and designation of the customs officer
• Signature and date and place of endorsement
• FERC holders are entitled to a credit against the duty payable by them, once in a calendar year.

Following is the Eligibility Criteria for Remittance Card.

• The applicant should be a Non-Resident Pakistani.
• Remitted amount in Foreign Currency should be equivalent to US$ as per table below for issuance of Remittance Cards.
• Remittance is acceptable which has been made to a Pak Rupee Account or which has been converted into Pak Rupee from a Foreign Currency Account through bank.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Infant, Minors and persons below the age of 18 year are not entitled for FERC.
• Student are also not entitled for FERC.
• Amount remitted in Foreign Currency Account in Pakistan and not converted/encashed into Pak Rupee Account through the bank.
• Receipts of amount exchanged from Money Exchange Companies are not acceptable.
• ATM Receipts with out the identification of the Remitter’s name.

How To Apply

• The Embassy/Consulate dispatch the application form to OPF Head Office Islamabad for issuance of FER Card after proper verification.
• OPF issues the card and dispatch to concerned Pak mission for onward deliverance to the applicants.
• Card will not be dispatched to the applicant abroad.
• One year back receipts of remitted amount will be accepted from the date of application for issuance of FER Card.

After verifying the documents the card of prescribed category will be issued accordingly