(16 May, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said introducing WeBoc system of custom clearance by FBR on the Sust boarder with China without availability of basic requirements in Khunjrab – Gilgit including electricity in internet is shocking, since internet service is the basic and vital need for the system to work.
The veteran business leader while talking to the business community said that local traders involved in international trade have been affected adversely by the implementation of WeBoc system and all kind of import and export activities are suspended since last 6 weeks. Pakistani traders are not even aware of this new custom clearance system, its implications and benefits, for which proper training is required and their reservation should be sympathetically addressed by the concerned authorities.
The former minister said that due to insist of authorities on transfer of trade to WeBoc, international trade is suffering on the largest trade corridor of the Country – CPEC. Similarly, export / import activities are delayed on Gwader subject to custom clearance through WeBoc. Basic infrastructure, which is state responsibility to provide to the traders, exporters and importers are missing in Gwader and custom clearance on the Port could not initiated till now. Confirmed sources say that the implementation of WeBoc may take 3 more months. FBR and other concerned authorities are required to plan the process of WeBoc implementation in accordance to the need of area and allow custom clearance through One Custom till the basic infrastructure required for WeBoc is developed in the border areas including Gwader.
Mian Zahid Hussain said implementation of WeBoc on Torkham border has caused severe delay in the clearing process as high speed internet and regular electricity supply is missing in the locality. Pakistani traders also wish to develop their trade activities and implement latest clearing system, i.e., WeBoc in order to avail the benefits attached to it like accurate invoicing, taxation and online tracking of their shipments but without proper infrastructure, it is not possible, which needs urgent consideration of the Government and concerned authorities, so that the important issue pertaining to international trade may get resolved on priority.
