KARACHI: In a major stride towards enhancing transparency and efficiency in customs assessments, Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched the innovative Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system. This cutting-edge initiative aims to streamline the workload of Customs staff and improve trade facilitation through the establishment of a Central Appraising Unit (CAU) in Karachi.
As part of this transformative move, the FBR has started posting officers and officials to the newly created CAU. Ms. Quratulain Ramay, previously serving as Deputy Collector Appraisement (SAPT), has been assigned the role of Deputy Collector MIS/CAU in the new CAU at SAPT.
Additionally, several Principal Appraisers, including Saeed Ahmed Soomro, Farooq Ahmad, Ghulam Yaseen Sabri, Khurrarn Rafiq, Azjz Sarwar, and Abdul Samad Surahio, have been transferred to the CAU to bolster its operations.
The FCA system and the CAU are intended to improve the quality and transparency of customs assessments for imported goods, which is a significant step towards modernizing Pakistan’s customs procedures. By introducing a faceless assessment system, the FBR aims to eliminate human biases and enhance the efficiency of customs operations.
However, this ambitious plan has faced some criticism from within. According to an official, the implementation of the CAU is seen as a positive initiative but is reportedly being sabotaged. The official noted that the CAU’s current structure assigns 99 chapters of customs assessments to each appraiser, a workload deemed unmanageable. “No one can be that expert to assess Goods Declarations (GDs) of every chapter,” the official remarked.
The restructuring has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of appraisers, with the workload of 100 appraisers now being distributed among 44 appraisers in Customs Appraisement South. Furthermore, the number of Principal Appraisers has been cut from 28 to just 6, raising concerns about the potential impact on trade operations. The trade community fears that the staff will be overburdened, leading to delays and inefficiencies.
In terms of reporting structure, the appraisers will not be under the direct reporting line of the Collectors in Appraisement South. While they will be administratively controlled by the Collectors, they will operationally report to the Collector Appraisement South HQ, a new collectorate that is currently being established. The postings for this new collectorate are expected to be announced shortly.
As the FBR navigates the challenges of implementing the FCA system and establishing the CAU, the success of this initiative will be closely watched by stakeholders who hope for a more transparent and efficient customs assessment process in Pakistan.