The recently launched Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system has significantly improved customs operations in Pakistan, reducing goods declaration (GD) clearance time from an average of 109 hours to just 18 hours. Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement (South), Muhammad Jamil Nasir Khan, shared these developments during a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI).
Chief Collector highlighted the system’s positive impact on importers, including reduced demurrage charges and costs. By eliminating the need for importers to visit public offices or engage in lengthy litigations, the FCA system has streamlined the customs process. Since its launch in mid-December, the system has maintained strong revenue collection, with Rs86 billion collected in its first 15 days of operation.
The FCA system’s rapid clearance of GDs is expected to encourage other departments to expedite their operations, enhancing the overall competitiveness of Pakistan’s economy. Khan also announced plans to establish a centralized examination centre in Karachi, equipped with body cameras for examiners to ensure transparency and real-time monitoring. Supported by the World Bank, this initiative will include an incentive-based system for appraisers, linking their performance to the speed, quality, and quantity of GD processing.
The system will be further expanded with the establishment of customs assessment units (CAUs) in Lahore and Islamabad, integrated with Karachi’s operations, which currently handle 80% of the country’s imports. Khan noted a 31% reduction in GDs routed through the red and yellow channels, a significant increase in green channel clearances, and a 75% drop in document calling since the system’s implementation.
The FCA system has replaced the group-based assessment structure with a single controlled environment where all 80 officials process GDs sequentially, eliminating favouritism. This streamlined process reduces delays and unnecessary payments for importers while ensuring revenue integrity. Khan emphasized that the system is already benefiting industrial raw material importers and addressing issues in commercial and miscellaneous imports.
KCCI Welcomes FCA System
KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani commended the launch of the FCA system, describing it as a game-changer for both imports and exports. He noted that faster clearance of imported raw materials would accelerate production cycles, ultimately boosting exports. Bilwani urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure the system’s seamless long-term operation, emphasizing its potential to expedite container traffic at ports and improve Pakistan’s global port operations ranking.
Bilwani also suggested that the success of the faceless system could reduce the need for dry ports across the country. Consolidating all imported consignment clearances at ports through the FCA system would address issues such as corruption and misdeclaration, he added.
Bilwani highlighted the importance of automation tools like the FCA system and the FASTER system in addressing Pakistan’s trade deficit. He stressed that such innovations are essential for achieving a trade surplus and improving the country’s economic outlook.
