Karachi: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has officially authorized eight appraising officers from the Customs Department to assume duties as principal appraisers, effective immediately. The appointments fall under Section 5(2) of the Customs Act, 1969, and aim to address the growing backlog of assessments at the principal appraiser level.
The newly designated principal appraisers, all holding BS-16 positions, are:
Mr. Roch-Ul-Amin
Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Dogar
Mr. Hubban Muhi-Ud-Din
Mr. Muhammad Bilal
Mr. Faraz Ahmed
Mr. Akhtar Abbas
Mr. Asim Abbas
Mr. Shakeel John
Customs Backlog and Extended Work Hours
The backlog at the First Review stage—handled by principal appraisers—has intensified in recent days, prompting officers to work extended shifts from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Chief Collector Nasir Jameel, in response to operational inefficiencies, has appointed several competent officers to streamline the review process and alleviate delays.
However, insiders suggest that Customs officers are being pressured to work excessive hours due to systemic flaws in the Faceless Assessment System, which was initially introduced with the promise of reducing corruption within the department.
Controversy Surrounding the Faceless Assessment System
Despite claims that the Faceless Assessment System is a successful enterprise, critics argue that it is artificially portrayed as efficient while imposing undue burdens on appraisers. According to sources, officers are being compelled to work long hours without proper compensation or procedural improvements.
The system, designed to eliminate direct interactions between Customs officials and importers, is now raising concerns over revenue security. Officials say that billions of rupees in revenue remain unsecured due to irregularities in the system.
Further, an investigation into the system’s operations suggests inconsistencies in importer profiling during Goods Declaration (GD) filing. Some importer profiles reportedly fail to appear reliably, prompting concerns over potential manipulation and favoritism.
An official familiar with the matter emphasized the need for a thorough review of the Faceless Assessment System, underscoring its impact on revenue collection and operational transparency.
Calls for Reform
Industry stakeholders and Customs officials are now advocating for a reassessment of the Faceless Assessment System to ensure fairness, efficiency, and revenue security. As scrutiny mounts, the FBR may face increasing pressure to revise its approach to digital Customs assessment.