FBR officials will meet representatives of Agility, the Kuwait-based logistics company that has developed the software, on Friday.
PaCCS was introduced as a pilot project in 2005 by then FBR chairman Abdullah Yousuf.
The software was installed at container terminals at the Karachi Port Trust as well as the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport. However in May 2010, the FBR announced that the software would be replaced by a locally developed system. In response, Agility threatened a legal action in case its software was rolled out, arguing that the company has already issued four extensions to the FBR for implementing the system.
Later, Federal Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh directed FBR officials to negotiate with the software developer. The minister stressed the need for avoiding legal confrontation and also that the system should be modified according to the feedback of stakeholders.
PaCCS has been received well by stakeholders involved in international trade given the simplified process of customs clearance. The software has replaced some 26 clearance steps, 34 signatures and 62 verifications that were required for the clearing of shipments manually.
Alternate software that the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) was developing has so far failed to provide a comprehensive mechanism for similar customs operations. PRAL is a subsidiary of the FBR which was established for the automation of revenue collection processes.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2011.
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