Karachi, February 20, 2026 — The All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) has called for the immediate suspension of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s point scoring and deduction mechanism for licensed customs agents, urging authorities to recalibrate the system in consultation with key stakeholders before its continuation.
In an official statement, APCAA Chairman Arshad Khurshid said that although the point scoring framework was a positive and progressive initiative in principle, its current implementation was flawed, leading to widespread concerns and operational difficulties for licensed customs agents nationwide.
He noted that the system, which aims to identify genuine violations involving revenue impact, was being applied in a manner that resulted in point deductions even where no fault or irregularity was attributable to customs agents. “Despite repeated identification of anomalies and multiple representations to the FBR, no meaningful corrective measures have been implemented so far,” he said.
Khurshid added that the lack of proper calibration and transparency in execution had created uncertainty in business operations and posed serious challenges for agents engaged in legitimate trade facilitation. He highlighted that both the Faceless Assessment System and the point deduction mechanism were introduced under the government’s broader reform agenda to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in customs operations.
While acknowledging initial implementation challenges, the APCAA chairman commended Chief Collector Customs Appraisement South Wajid Ali for his efforts in resolving operational issues related to the faceless assessment system, stating that several trade-related concerns had been effectively streamlined under his leadership.
However, he stressed that the point deduction system still lacked a transparent review process and a consultative approach, resulting in unjustified penalties. The association reiterated its demand for the immediate suspension of the mechanism until it is thoroughly recalibrated in collaboration with APCAA and other relevant stakeholders.
APCAA reaffirmed its support for reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and trade facilitation, provided such measures are implemented in a fair, rational, and business-friendly manner.