FCA performance: FBR rejects APTMA’s concerns

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has firmly rejected the figures presented by All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) concerning customs clearance delays following the implementation of the faceless customs assessment (FCA). The FBR argues that the performance data cited in APTMA's complaint largely reflects the early stages of FCA implementation and does not accurately represent later improvements.

Average customs clearance time has decreased from 40.2 hours to 20.57 hours, with 83 percent of consignments now cleared within 48 hours. The FBR is committed to resolving genuine operational obstacles without undermining the core goals of the reform. They have extended an invitation to APTMA and other trade organizations to present specific and verifiable cases, including relevant Goods Declaration numbers, to address reported delays, valuation disputes, and classification errors.

The FBR remains steadfast in its dedication to enhancing the faceless customs assessment, emphasizing the relocation of the Central Appraising Unit to Islamabad as a subsequent step in customs modernization, not a revertible action.