The Pakistan Customs Computerised System (PCCS) will be launched initially by the end of March as part of the Customs Administrative Reforms (CARE), aimed at transformation of customs into an efficient and service-oriented organisation. This was disclosed by Central Board of Revenue (CBR) member, Customs, Mohammad Ramzan Bhatti, while inaugurating the Care programme, organised by the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) in collaboration with the Pakistan Customs here on Monday.
Bhatti said the PCCS would be implemented in three phases.
In first phase, the KICT was designated a site for initial pilot project, while in second phase, it would be replicated at the KICT in the remaining areas of Karachi Port and at oil piers, he said.
In the third phase, Bhatti said, it would be rolled out to Port Qasim and Air Freight Unit, Karachi, and later it would be rolled over to all dry ports and the customs stations all over Pakistan, he added.
The CBR member said the Pakistan Customs had been working towards modernisation since long and was the first government organisation to introduce computerisation.
Recounting systems like Express Lane Facility (ELF), Electronic Assessment System, Risk Indicated Selective Examination (RISE) and Automated Customs Processing (ACP), introduced in the past, he said after integration of these systems, consignments of over 200 importers was being cleared expeditiously.
He pointed out that due to limited technology, these schemes were based on limited risk parameters.
In view of shortcomings, the Pakistan Customs intended to integrate disparate risk factors into a management system covering all the custom activities.
On Care, Ramzan Bhatti said it was an in-house initiative of the CBR to represent a paradigm shift in the customs' role in logistic supply chain.
It aimed at reducing the customs processing time, providing system-based solutions to emerging problems, On-line lifting of goods and cargo declarations, self-assessment by the declarant and on-line payment of duty and taxes, he said.
KICT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khurram Abbas also spoke on the occasion.