Leverage AI for customs duty collection: Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for comprehensive measures to eliminate corruption in customs operations.

He emphasized removing unnecessary obstacles and leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced technology to ensure the full enforcement of customs duties.

The prime minister, chairing a meeting to discuss matters related to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Customs, called the customs sector a backbone of the country’s economy.

He said the FBR reforms and complete digitisation would guarantee economic security.

He instructed the authorities concerned to ensure third-party audit of reform initiatives in FBR and other departments and bring all such projects under one umbrella.

Prime Minister Shehbaz directed to increase revenue collection through improved enforcement and establish a project management unit to drive reforms in the customs sector.

He said all the issues related to the mis-invoicing should be resolved and under-invoicing be eliminated to protect Pakistan’s industries and products. He also sought details of revenue collection as a result of enforcement and also instructed establishing a regulatory framework for the operations of the shipping industry.

The prime minister called for a third-party audit of a web-based one-customs system (WeBOC).