KARACHI: Pakistan’s leading customs agents associations have voiced strong support for the Faceless Assessment System introduced at Customs Karachi, calling it a milestone in trade facilitation and transparency. The initiative, they said, aligns with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s reform agenda and promises to eliminate discrimination in customs clearance.
In a joint statement issued Friday, Arshad Khurshid, chairman of the All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA), and Muhammad Aamir, president of the Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA), welcomed the system’s merit-based, first-in-first-out (FIFO) approach. They also lauded the newly appointed Chief Collector of Customs (Appraisement-South), Wajid Ali, for his swift engagement with stakeholders and decisive actions to address operational bottlenecks.
“The faceless system is a game-changer for Pakistan’s trade environment,” Khurshid said. “It ensures fairness and efficiency, and Mr. Wajid Ali’s leadership is accelerating its success.”
Ali convened a stakeholder meeting earlier this week, where both associations highlighted initial deployment challenges that had caused delays in cargo clearance. In response, the Chief Collector announced a series of reforms aimed at streamlining the process:
Assistant Collectors will be appointed as focal persons in each Collectorate to resolve assessment and examination delays.
Second reviews will not be rejected without a formal hearing.
The faceless assessment process will be strengthened to reinforce merit-based decision-making.
A dedicated facilitation center is under consideration at Custom House to handle non-assessment issues.
Measures will be taken to address officer shortages and improve review quality to minimize reassessments.
Aamir emphasized that these steps reflect a “balanced enforcement approach” that prioritizes trade facilitation without compromising regulatory integrity.
“We appreciate Mr. Wajid Ali’s proactive stance,” Aamir said. “His commitment to stakeholder inclusion and operational clarity is exactly what the system needs to thrive.”
The Faceless Assessment System, designed to reduce human interaction and enhance transparency, is part of a broader digital transformation underway at Pakistan Customs. Industry stakeholders say its success could set a precedent for other regulatory bodies seeking to modernize.
The APCAA and KCAA pledged continued cooperation with customs authorities to ensure smooth implementation and long-term sustainability of the reforms.