ISLAMABAD, April 12: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to introduce a single document declaration system at all customs collectorates for speedy clearance of cargo aimed at facilitating trade as a part of the restructuring of tax administration.

A senior official in the CBR told Dawn on Saturday the single document declaration system would be effective from July 1, 2003, at all customs collectorates.

The CBR had introduced first ever Pakistan Goods Declaration (PGD) system — a single document declaration system at the Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as a pilot project in December 2002.

This system included single document, which would replace five different documents like bill of entry, shipping bill, transshipment permit, baggage declaration and safe transportation permit. The CBR has introduced the PGD with the assistance of United Nations Centre for Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The official said that so far the impediments found in the pilot project at Port Qasim were mostly removed and addressed.

He said a new business friendly software would be introduced at the other collectorates from the next financial year.

Elaborating the new system, the official said the new document was handy and computer friendly and its introduction has widely been appreciated by the clearing agents and the trade bodies at the Port Qasim.

The official said the single document would bring a revolutionary change in the customs working by ensuring quick processing of documents and expeditious clearance of cargo.

This would result in greater shipments at all ports as it was user friendly which would result in generation of more revenue at the ports, added the official.