In order to gain vested interests, the bureaucracy at Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) launched WeBOC system a year ago.
The cost of business is being paid by the importers of the country. Because of this semi-automated system, the cost of business has increased to 25 per cent which is not acceptable by the trade community, said Arshad Jamal, Chairman, Senior Vice Chairman, All Pakistan Customs Agents Association while addressing to a gathering of importers here. The importers have rejected this system because its collectorate has ignored assessment of consignments for evaluation, he noted.
He further said, although, there were some issues with PaCCS but it was an automated solution. The system had the capacity to manage country’s increasing trade. On the other hand, WeBOC has no provision to settle consignments without undergoing physical verification of consignments. This condition has not only delayed in clearance but open the doors of corruption.
During the launch, the authorities promised that clearance of consignments will be categorised in Yellow, Red and Blue to facilitate but failed to introduce the initiative even after one year of operations which has increased the procedures. The staffs at the assessment and examination fix the speed money for immediate clearance otherwise consignments would be delayed further.
Arshad Jamal, Chairman, Pakistan Economy Forum, urged Federal Minister for Finance to investigate the procedures and performance of WeBOC launched a year ago replacing PaCCS.
Earlier, the revenue body formed a committee to improve reforms, automation and risk management to improve the process of computerization, automation, risk-management systems and monitoring/functioning of WeBOC but all in vein. If such uncertain situation prevails, the worries of traders may put revenue body (FBR) into trouble.
The computerization is the backbone of automation and risk management system but it is disappointed to mention that, WeBOC manage several procedures manually. FBR should continue PaCCS at all the terminals if unable to resolve the issues of WeBOC.
