By

Syed Tanvir Ahmad

Director (Reforms &
Automation)
Pakistan Customs
Federal Board of Revenue

Customs
Automation
and Single
Window

Scheme of Presentation

History and basic features of automated system

Cost of development

Performance vis--vis previous semi automated system

Single Widow introduction in Pakistan

Stages achieved so far

Whats remaining to be done

Regional connectivity Initiatives taken

Lessons learnt

Genesis & Evolution of Technology

1981-83

Appraiser Guidance System; Statistical Report System;

Batch Data Entry System

1992

On-line Transaction Processing System (OLTP)

2004

Implementation of One Customs System

2005

Roll Out of PaCCS at KICT, PICT and QICT

2009

Development of WeBOC at Islamabad Airport

2011

Pilot run at Port Qasim

2012

Roll Out of WeBOC Karachi

2013

Country-wide Roll Out

3

Basic Features Of WeBOC

Paperless system rolled out in 2012 (Karachi) 2013 (whole country)

On-line -- manifest filing (ships) & goods declaration filing (traders)

24/7

Online payments (through PD account)

All custom processes performed on-line by customs staff

Assessment based on examination reports and images uploaded

Risk Management System (Green, Yellow, Red channels)

Inspection/Examination of goods reduced from 100% to 30%

Basic Features Of WeBOC

First-in, First-out (FIFO)
Online adjudication process
Complete log of all activities -- strict controls
Communication with custodian of goods through EDI
Transparency and less cost of doing business
Minimize Dwell Time

Cost of Development
M/s Agility demanded more than 100-150 million dollars (Rs 10
billion) for paperless software PACCS
WeBOC developed indigenously --- One million dollars (Rs 10
crore) --

Developed by:
Officers of Pakistan Customs; and
M/s Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) IT company
owned by FBR

PRE-WEBOC PAPER BASED

SYSTEM

34 signatures and 62
verifications on every
GD
Customs documents had
to be carried from desk
to desk

WeBOC Assessment Hall- Sambrial

WeBOC Facilitation Centre- Sambrial

WeBOC Exports Rebate Section- Sambrial

WeBOC Data Centre-Karachi

Performance
Customs Clearance Time

Manual system

WeBOC

More than 4 days

Imports-54% within 24
hours
Exports-98% within few
hours

Import clearance steps

26 steps

1 step

Export clearance steps

10-12 steps

1 step

Goods Declaration

Paper-based
multiple copies

Electronic

Carrier Declaration

Submission on
electronic media

Online submission and

amendment

Physical intervention of goods

100%

Appx 30%

Documentary Requirements

Training Imparted
Traders/importers/exporters
Customs clearing agents
Terminal operators/custodian of goods (NLC, Railways,
Shaheen, PIA, Gerrys
Courier companies (DHL, FedEx etc.)
Shipping agents/lines
Bonded carriers
Warehouse keepers
Airlines
Laboratories
Banks (SBP and NBP, others)
Other government ministries and agencies--PSQCA (Standard
Quality Authority), Plant Protection, Engineering Development
Board, Anti Narcotics Force, Commerce, Foreign Affairs,
Interior, National Tariff Commission etc

User Registration Status

Traders

Clearing
Agents

Shipping
Lines /
Agents

Internal Users
Import +
Export

25333

1782

237

711

Goods Declarations Status

S.N
Title
o
1 Total import GDs filed since
inception
2 Total export GDs filed since
inception

Facts
3,00,000 +
400,000 +

RMS Results
Imports
GDs Processed
through Green
Channel

GDs Processed
through Yellow
Channel

25%

44%

GDs Processed
Through Red
Channel

31%

Exports
GDs Processed
through Green
Channel

GDs Processed
through Yellow
Channel

GDs Processed
Through Red
Channel

78%

12%

10%

Single Window Road Map

Ist Stage: Paperless Customs: e-payment of import duty /taxes e-documents exchange with terminal operators/port authorities.

2nd Stage: Port Community Information Exchange: edocument exchange with other stake holders -- importers,
exporters, CA, shipping lines/their agents, bonded carriers, freight
forwarders, insurance companies, Airlines, EPZ, etc.

3rd Stage: Other Government Agencies for Paperless

Permits and Certificates: connecting with other governmental
agencies, trade, logistics departments like Commerce, NTC, TDAP,
Industry, EDB, Textile, Communication, Defence, Agriculture,
Quarantine, VAT, I Tax, Law Enforcement Agencies (ANF, Interior,
agencies) etc.

4th Stage: National Single Window: An integrated national elogistics platform with traders, logistics, service providers
information exchange (booking of cargo to home delivery).

5th Stage: Regional Single Window: Regional information

Single Window Components

SWI comprises of four essential components:
ACCESS (Automated Customs Clearance System)
TARIP

(Tariff & Integrated Policy)

ECHO (Enhanced Cargo Handling & Port Optimization)

INTRA

(Integrated Regulatory Authorities)

18

ACCESS -- Automated Customs Clearance System

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Carrier declaration module

Goods declaration module
Assessment module
Examination module
Payment module
Security management
module
7. Duty Tax Computation
Engine
8. Risk management
9. Clearance system
10.Refunds Management
11.Rebate Management
12.Quotas Management
13.Users Management
14.Lab Management
15.Transshipment
16.Inter-port movement
17.Recoveries Management

19.Valuation (VR , data

base)
20.Manifest Clearance
System
21.PD Accounts
22.Transit for US /
NATO/ISAF
23.Electronic Data
Interchange
24.SROs Management
25.Tariff Management
26.TARIP
27.Warehousing
28.Exemption Regime
29.Post Clearance Audit
30.EDB (CKD kits)
31.KPT
32.Bulk Solid
33.Bulk Liquid

TARIP -----

Automate
d Custom
Clearance
Tariff &
Integrate
d Policy
Enhanced
Cargo
Handling
& Port
Optimizat
ion
Log Out
Integrate
d
Regulator
y
Authoritie
s

Tariff & Integrated Policy

TARIP gives complete picture of

regulations for import or export. Following
details are linked with each HS code:
Tariff rates (like duties, taxes, FED,
income tax, anti-dumping,
countervailing,
various surcharges & cess etc
Export drawback rates
Banned items / Restrictions of import &
export policies
Exemptions
requirements

concession

and

their

Details of documentary requirements

List of declaration requirements
20

ECHO --- Enhanced Cargo Handling & Port

Optimization
ECHO connects port authorities, carriers
(shipping agents and co-loaders), customs
etc
Automated
Custom
Clearance
Tariff &
PaCCS
Integrated
Components
Policy
Enhanced
Cargo
Handling
& Port
Optimizati
on
Log Out
Integrated
Regulatory
Authoritie
s

It provides following advantages:

One electronic document for the carriers
Real time inventory and monitoring of ports
Terminal Operators/Port Authorities linked
with EDI
e-Gates -- No customs staff at the gates
No requirement by customs for export
manifest
Risk screening prior to arrival of the cargo
under
customs controls
21

INTRA -- Integrated Regulatory Authorities

Connects the regulatory
imports/exports:
Automate
d Custom
Clearance
Tariff &
Integrate
d Policy
Enhanced
Cargo
Handling
& Port
Optimizat
ion
Integrate
d
Regulator
y
Authoritie
s

authorities

involved

in

LINKS DEVELOPED:
Federal Board of Revenue and its wings
All VAT and Direct Tax Commissionerates
Central bank / NBP and Scheduled Banks
(partially)
Transport Sector (registered with customs)
Ministry of Commerce
Ministry of Production
Plant and Animal quarantine
UNDER DEVELOPMENT:
Government Ministries & Department
(such as:
22
Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Health, Environment, National

SWI Internal Users FBR Departments

23

What is to be done??
Declare Customs as lead agency (its in more than 35 countries)
Support and monitoring from the highest level
Monitored by the Prime Minister office in many countries
Legal frame work
Proposed that a summary may be moved to the Prime Minister for
constitution of a committee:
Finance, Commerce, Industry, Production
Communication, Science and Technology,
Agriculture, Textile, Planning, etc

Lessons Learnt
Strong
Strong political
political will
will &
& commitment
commitment for
for reforms
reforms from
from
higher
higher management
management their
their (initial
(initial automation
automation driven
driven by
by
junior
junior officers
officers and
and opposed
opposed by
by majority)
majority)
Ownership
Ownership of
of the
the reform
reform by
by customs
customs --- Must
Must get
get all
all
stakeholders
stakeholders on
on board
board
Strategic
Strategic /long
/long term
term planning
planning --- initially
initially not
not focused
focused
and
and directionless
directionless
Our
Our emphasis
emphasis kept
kept on
on changing
changing ----- from
from automation
automation to
to
trade
trade facilitation
facilitation to
to control
control corruption
corruption and
and to
to maximize
maximize
revenues
revenues
Liberate
Liberate the
the reform
reform team
team from
from routine
routine jobs
jobs (project
(project
office
purchasing
office set
set up,
up,
purchasing // tendering
tendering process,
process, hiring
hiring of
of IT
IT
consultants
consultants etc)
etc)
25

Customs must re-engineer its business processes (not

Lessons Learnt
Legislative Inertia (difficult to get through
legislation and procedural
approvals relating to
other ministries/departments)
Resistance to change
Requirement of IT staff must be properly gauged
Capacity Building / Training (facing capacity issues
for junior staff)
Customs must think out of the box (Question
everything and include
diverse stake holders in
thinking process planning as well minute details of
processes)
26

Lack of Self Reliance Automation team has no

Way Forward

WeBOC
Implementation
across Pakistan

Creating a National
Single Window
bringing business,
Integration with
allied government logistic providers,
service sectors on a
agencies and
platform for seamless
FBRs ST & IT
integration of trade
wings

Integration of NSW
into Regional
InformationExchange System

Thanks
syed.tanvir@fbr.gov.pk
syedtanvirahmad@yahoo.com

Regional Connectivity
Afghanistan Customs
The EDI with Afghan Customs Soft launching
(pilot run) initiated on Nov 01, 2013
Pakistan Customs sending EDI messages for transit
consignments leaving Karachi Port for Torkham
only
It will be replicated at Chaman after sucessful
testing
Afghan Customs sending EDI msg (data). However,
there are some problems in getting correct data
and reconciliation is not possible
Afghan Customs is working on correction. Pointed
out to afghan team and Canadians

Regional Connectivity

Connectivity with India

Efforts to harmonize border and trade controls
India and Pakistan have harmonized manifest
format (Export General Manifest of India is Import
General Manifest of Pakistan)
We shall start work on EDI in January, 2014.

Connectivity China
Working group constituted by FBR to develop EDI
Development of electronic certificate of origin
FTA verification
Connectivity for exchange of data also

Connectivity with CAREC (Central Asian Regional

Economic Cooperation)
Efforts under way to extend EDI msg to Heritan and
Sher Khan borders
Testing with Afghan Customs to be commenced