LAHORE: Chief Collector Customs Enforcement Central Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry has said that Pakistan Customs had automated its systems some 20 years ago against the efforts to automate Board of Revenue in order to get rid of the corrupt patwar system.

He was speaking at a function organised in connection with International Customs Day at the Wagha border.

According to him, Pakistan Single Window is the future of customs and all the trade related documents would be processed through it.

He said artificial intelligence is being utilized to strengthen the risk management system of the department. The Director General of Pakistan Rangers Punjab Major General Syed Asif Hussain was the Chief Guest who appreciated the role of Pakistan Customs in controlling smuggling and contributing to the efforts of revenue generation in the country.

Chief Collector Customs Appraisement Central Faiz Ahmed also spoke on the occasion and he said the digital transformation has enabled Pakistan Customs to promote data culture. He said revenue collection has risen to 58 percent in 1HFY22 against 42 percent in the corresponding period. He added the contribution of Pakistan Customs to the overall revenue generation has been all time high despite the COVID-19 destruction. He said rolling out of the Pakistan Single window system has helped Pakistan Customs to collect trade data and utilize it effectively. About 72 departments operate under this system and consignments are cleared speedily, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022