Islamabad, August 7, 2025 — In a blistering rebuttal, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has condemned what it calls a “malicious media campaign” aimed at sabotaging Pakistan Customs’ groundbreaking Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system.
The FBR expressed deep dismay over how certain media outlets have seemingly aligned with vested interests determined to dismantle the revolutionary, corruption-curbing initiative.
Introduced in December 2024, the FCA was designed to modernize customs clearance by minimizing human interaction and increasing transparency. However, according to the FBR, powerful elements who profited handsomely from the archaic manual system are now orchestrating a smear campaign to roll back these reforms. “Some media outlets have irresponsibly echoed these fabricated narratives without fact-checking or verifying the data,” the FBR stated.
A recent example cited by the FBR involves sensational media reports alleging that luxury vehicles, including a 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser, were cleared at shockingly undervalued rates—claiming one such vehicle was assessed at merely Rs17,635. The FBR categorically refuted this, clarifying that the actual assessed value was Rs10.05 million, resulting in Rs47.2 million being collected in duties and taxes.
The FBR further lambasted the media for falsely linking FCA to trade-based money laundering in vehicle imports. It emphasized that such imports are legally permitted for overseas Pakistanis under the Gift and Transfer of Residence schemes—mechanisms that do not require any outward remittance of foreign exchange from Pakistan. Moreover, such imports predate the FCA’s inception.
Importantly, the FBR reminded critics that ongoing internal audits and performance reviews of the FCA are part of its own robust oversight mechanisms—measures twisted out of context by sensationalist media reports.
The FBR stressed its unwavering commitment to reform, vowing not to succumb to orchestrated media pressure. “Pakistan’s economic integrity must not be held hostage by misinformation. The media must act responsibly and uphold journalistic ethics,” it concluded.