New cargo clearance system starts functioning

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

KARACHI: The newly-launched auto-clearance cargo system WeBOC at Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) at Port Qasim has successfully handled eight ships during last four days.

The indigenously developed new system made debut on Saturday to replace the Pakistan Automation Customs Clearance System (PaCCS) owned by a Kuwait-based company Agility and was in function since 2005.

The WeBOC developed by Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd (PRAL) was initially put on test-run on April 16, 2011 at Export Collectorate Port Qasim. According to customs authorities the auto-clearance cargo system had smoothly cleared cargo at MCC Port Qasim and Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT).

The Risk Management System (RMS) has also started work with the WeBOC and banks have been put online with the system for collection and direct deposit of tax and duties in the FBR account.

The new system has cleared over 300 Goods Declaration (GDs) and Import General Manifest (IGM) of eight ships.

The authorities said that the PQ Collectorate opened three help desks at QICT, IC3 (PQ) and at Customs House to facilitate importers and exporters and their agents in getting user IDs. Around 3,900 user IDs have been issued to importers and exporters, 1,100 to clearing agents 135 to shipping lines and ship agents.

However, the most encouraging thing about the performance of the WeBOC that it easily cleared all sort of cargoes including DTRE adjustments, rice, FCL, LCL cargo and special shipments and not a single container was shut-out.

Official sources said that once the operational results of WeBOC are established at Port Qasim the FBR as per plans would also include clearance of containerised cargo at Pakistan International Container Terminal and Karachi International Container Terminal.

The Agility, which has the intellectual property right (IPR) over PaCCS, did not allow the FBR to make any changes in the software which became highly predictable and was resulting in huge revenue loss to national exchequer.