Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif says significant progress has been made in the last few months regarding digitization and reforms in Federal Board of Revenue.
Chairing a meeting on the matters related to FBR in Islamabad today, he said the Faceless Customs Assessment System based on minimum human intervention has been introduced in the customs process for the first time in history, marking a significant milestone in the digitization of the FBR.
Shehbaz Sharif directed the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Federal Board of Revenue to work together to further improve the system.
He also directed to shift the system on artificial intelligence by minimizing the human intervention.
The Prime Minister said that the Faceless Customs Assessment System should be broadened and implemented in other cities as soon as possible after Karachi so that all imports across the country could benefit from this system.
He also directed to evolve a comprehensive strategy for the implementation of the track and trace system in various industrial sectors.
The meeting was briefed about the recent reforms in FBR.
During the briefing, it was informed that the faceless customs system would be made fully operational at all terminals of Karachi Port by the end of next month.
It was told that efforts are underway to ensure its operation nationwide soon and a central control room is being established to monitor the faceless customs system.
It was further informed that mobile signal jammers and CCTV cameras are also being installed at all terminals to enhance the transparency of the system.
The meeting was apprised that a transparent recruitment process for the new customs system has been initiated while a track and trace system had been implemented in all industrial units of the tobacco, fertilizers, sugar, and cement industries.
It was informed that the implementation of the track and trace system led to a significant increase in revenue from the tobacco, sugar, cement, and fertilizer industries in the fiscal year 2023-2024 compared to the previous corresponding year.
The meeting was told that under the prime minister’s directive, the upgradation of the web-based One Customs has started and its design will be completed by the end of March.
