(Islamabad) – After receiving approval from the federal cabinet, the federal government has removed the ban on gold imports and exports. The suspended Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) for the trade of gold has been reinstated, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
In order to make the process simpler and more transparent, the government has also modified the regulations governing the import and export of gold and jewelry. The ban was initially put into effect in May 2025 as a result of smuggling complaints. To control trade, the Ministry suspended the SRO for 60 days on May 6. However, the cabinet decided to lift the ban after months without significant smuggling cases.
According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), only nine kilograms of gold valued at $927,000 were imported in May 2025; no gold was imported in June or July. The majority of this shipment was completed prior to the suspension. In contrast, gold imports hit a record $2.2 million in July 2024.
Atif Ikram Sheikh, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), had previously asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reinstate SRO 760. He clarified that although exporters had already received gold under contract and used it to make jewelry, the abrupt suspension damaged supply chains and undermined customer confidence.
