Demand for Non-Custom Paid Vehicles Drops Sharply in Balochistan Amid Crackdown and Afghan Repatriation

QUETTA – The market for non-custom paid (NCP) vehicles, locally known as “Kabuli cars,” has witnessed a significant decline across Balochistan, particularly in Quetta and other border regions. This drop is largely attributed to intensified government crackdowns on smuggling and the ongoing repatriation of Afghan refugees.
NCP vehicles, which are illegally brought into Pakistan from across the Afghan border, have traditionally been in high demand due to their lower prices. However, according to local trader Taimur Khan, the past month has seen a dramatic slowdown in this market.
With Afghan refugees—who formed a major customer base for these vehicles—now leaving the country, demand has plummeted. Meanwhile, increased enforcement actions by authorities against smuggling operations have further disrupted the supply chain.
As a result, the prices of NCP vehicles have fallen drastically. For instance, 660cc to 800cc Kabuli vehicles that previously sold for Rs 500,000 to Rs 600,000 are now being sold for less than Rs 400,000. Larger vehicle prices have also seen similar drops.
Conversely, demand and prices for legally imported, custom-paid vehicles are on the rise. Many traders are now abandoning the NCP vehicle business due to shrinking profits and growing legal risks, marking a major blow to the once-thriving but illegal trade sector.