Confusion prevails among importers, exporters and customs agents as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) keeps mum over the prospect of continuing use of the software being used by Pakistan Automated Customs Computerised System (PaCCS), developed by Agility Logistics, a Kuwait based software house.
Although the announcement was made to continue the services of Agility Logistics for cargo clearance till September 30, 2010 to enable consultations between the board and the company, the FBR has so far neither extended its date nor issued any notification for its suspension.
The board, which had earlier decided to replace Agility''s software with an alternative application ''Web Based One Customs'' (WeBOC), developed by Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL), had allowed the company to continue its operation till September 30, 2010 because of WeBOC failure. According to official sources, the board is keeping eyes on the recommendations of international lenders, who are presently busy in weighing pros and cons in this connection. They said the prospect of the Kuwait based software developer is based on the report of World Bank mission, which had reviewed the customs operations early last month.
When contacted, Arshad Jamal, senior vice chairman of All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA), said that the mysterious pause of the board over the issue of Kuwait based software house has left the stakeholders in confusion.
He said that the PaCCS, which was exclusively designed in accordance with future shipping traffic, could be modified as per requirements. But its replacement would create problems for everyone. He also urged the authorities concerned to take positive measures in this regard to facilitate the stakeholders at optimum level.
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