KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s modern faceless customs assessment system at Karachi Port, which is being described as a major milestone for the development of Pakistan’s economy.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister said that this system will promote transparency, eliminate corruption, and make the customs clearance process faster and easier.
The Prime Minister stated that under the faceless customs assessment system, the clearance time has been reduced from 107 hours to 19 hours, and the minimum clearance time is now only 15 to 20 minutes.
Eighty-eight percent of importers are satisfied with this system, and there has been an 80 percent reduction in complaints. The Prime Minister noted that this system ensures transparency by eliminating direct contact between importers and assessors. Human intervention in the modern automated system will be very limited, which will also reduce the chances of corruption.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the customs officers, the finance minister, and the FBR chairman. He mentioned that the government started the process of reforming the FBR as soon as it took office. He further stated that the rotten system of the past had damaged national resources, but now this new system will play an important role in the revival of the economy.
He added that through the faceless system, importers will not know who is clearing their goods, and the clearing officer will also not know whose goods they are clearing. This will promote transparency and impartiality.
The Prime Minister said in his address that this success is laying the foundation for a prosperous future for Pakistan.
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He emphasized that everyone must work together to put the economy on the path of development. Additionally, he stressed that the condition requiring the address of importers is unnecessary and should be abolished to provide more convenience.
According to the FBR statement, this system is not only making the customs clearance process faster but also more transparent. Honest and experienced officers have been deployed for the modern digital system, which will facilitate the process of trade at the ports.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the success of this system during its three-week trial phase has proven its effectiveness, marking a positive step towards adapting Pakistan’s economy to modern requirements.
