Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to expand the faceless customs assessment system, currently operational in Karachi, to other cities across Pakistan. Chairing a review meeting on FBR reforms on Monday, the prime minister emphasized the need to implement the system nationwide to ensure all imports benefit from the digitized process.
The meeting, attended by key ministers and senior officials, reviewed the progress of FBR’s digitization and reform initiatives. The prime minister lauded the significant advancements made in recent months, highlighting the introduction of a faceless digitization system in customs for the first time in Pakistan’s history. He termed it a major milestone in the FBR’s modernization efforts.
PM Shehbaz instructed the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to collaborate with the FBR to further enhance the faceless customs system by integrating artificial intelligence and minimizing human intervention. He also called for the development of a comprehensive strategy to implement the track and trace system across various industrial sectors.
Officials briefed the meeting on the progress of the faceless customs system, which is expected to be fully operational at all Karachi port terminals by the end of February 2025, with nationwide implementation to follow. A central control room is being established to monitor the system, while body cameras and tablets will be introduced to ensure transparency in inspection recordings. Additionally, mobile signal jammers and CCTV cameras are being installed at all terminals to enhance oversight.
The meeting was informed that a transparent recruitment process for the new customs system is underway. The track and trace system, already implemented in the tobacco, fertilizer, sugar, and cement industries, has led to a significant increase in revenue during the fiscal year 2023-2024 compared to the previous year. Further revenue growth is anticipated with the system’s full implementation this year.
The prime minister was also briefed on the ongoing upgradation of the web-based One Customs system, with its design expected to be completed by the end of March 2025.
