FPCCI Supports Faceless System in Customs Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI

Karachi: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, has said that the business community supports the
implementation of Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system in the customs department to reduce human
interaction and increase the use of technology.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh demanded that traders should be facilitated through increase in green channel clearance;
minimizing dwell time and full operationalization of complaints resolution cell for timely redressal of issues,
grievances and serious apprehensions – and, traders’ financial losses and costs should be curtailed.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh stressed that the dwell time in Pakistan is approximately 7.7 days; which is almost double as
compared to its regional competitors; other countries with similar economic conditions and much higher than
international best practices – resulting in perpetuating financial losses for traders of the country on account of
demurrages, detention charges, storage costs and cost of capital stuck in the process.

It is pertinent to note that Mr. Wajid Ali, Chief Collector, Customs Appraisement South, visited FPCCI Head Office,
Federation House Karachi, for a detailed, interactive and consultative session with the business, industry and trade
community to address their issues and grievances vis-à-vis customs appraisement.

In a significant show of support to the business community, Mr. Wajid Ali, Chief Collector, Customs Appraisement
South, said that more than 80% traders particularly the industrial importers declare their consignments honestly;
therefore, the authorities want to expand and empower the system to extend the facility of green channel to
compliant traders.

Mr. Wajid Ali continued that planning, coordination and implementation efforts are underway to progressively
minimize the human contact and interaction to make customs department more efficient, business-friendly,
transparent and fair. Customs department sincerely wants to facilitate trade and industry in all manners; which are
practically possible and permitted under the regulations, he added.

Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, highlighted that the complaints resolution cell has become inactive in
dealing with genuine, legitimate and time-sensitive complaints of the importers – which is resulting in demurrages
and detention charges unnecessarily.

Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon maintained that the business, industry and trade community welcomes the plan to
implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) based customs valuation system – as it will align the country with the
emerging trends in trade; and, will be more precise, swift and error-free

Mr. Asif Sakhi, VP FPCCI, appreciated the Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system being implemented to
increase transparency, efficiency and revenue collection – as the system randomly assigns import goods declarations
to assessing officers in a Central Appraisement Unit (CAU) and keeps both parties anonymous

Mr. Asif Sakhi elaborated that the recommendations by FPCCI on Customs Appraisement represent the aggregate
feedback of 290+ chambers, associations and trade bodies of entire Pakistan as FPCCI is the apex trade body of the
country. Hence, FPCCI offers a platform to the customs department that can be effectively utilized for improvements
and efficiency of customs processes for the whole nation.

Mr. Arshad Jamal, Convener of FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on Economic Services Operations, explained
that FPCCI only supports the genuine and lawful complaint resolution of the traders in an expeditious manner – and,
its recommendations should be given due weightage.