The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued a clarification on Sunday regarding the recent disturbance in Customs Operations attributed to the upgradation of the FBR Data Center.
The statement aimed to provide transparency and assurance to stakeholders, shedding light on the nature of the disruptions and the subsequent restoration efforts.
Contrary to some concerns, the FBR emphasized that Customs operations have remained fully operational throughout the week. The Goods Declaration (GD) filing in the Weboc system for export activities continued without interruption. However, a temporary setback was experienced in the filing of Goods Declarations for imports due to a minor glitch in the Active Taxpayer List (ATL) module, where ATL data was required as input in the Weboc system.
FBR officials acted promptly to address the issue, prioritizing the restoration of the ATL module to ensure the seamless filing of Goods Declarations for imports. As a result, the glitch was resolved, and import GD filing resumed smoothly.
The FBR provided statistics to underscore the operational continuity of Customs operations, citing the following figures:
• Export GD Filing: Throughout the week, the filing of Goods Declarations for export remained fully operational.
• Import GD Filing: Despite the temporary disruption, the FBR reported that import GD filing has been functioning seamlessly since yesterday afternoon.
To provide a broader context, the FBR shared the daily GD filing numbers for the last three years on August 14th:
• 2019: 310 GD filings
• 2020: 1148 GD filings
• 2021: 1901 GD filings
Additionally, the FBR disclosed the import GD filings for the last two days:
• August 14th: 198 import GD filings
• Today (till noon): 86 import GD filings
These statistics indicate a consistent and robust trend in GD filing over the years, showcasing the resilience of Customs operations even during technical challenges.
The FBR reassured stakeholders, including traders, businesses, and the general public, that the temporary disruption in Customs operations was promptly addressed. The commitment to resolving technical glitches swiftly reflects the FBR’s dedication to maintaining the efficiency and reliability of the customs clearance system.
Stakeholders are encouraged to remain informed about such updates and to reach out to the FBR for any specific queries or concerns. The FBR remains committed to transparency and continuous improvement in its operations for the benefit of the business community and the economy at large.
