August 19, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-us-Sani 20, 1424

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The tax authorities would give briefing to the visiting World Bank pre-appraisal mission on reform projects started in Karachi as a part of re-structuring of tax administration.

Officials in the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) told Dawn that the review of the performance of the restructuring units based in Karachi would start from Tuesday.

During the three days stay, the bank officials would review the performance of the Large Taxpayers Unit, (LTU), Karachi.

They would be given detailed presentation on revenue collection and facilitation provided to the taxpayers during the last one year.

The tax officials would also brief the visiting Bank officials on the proposed pilot project to be set up at Karachi Container Terminal by March 2004.

The project is aimed at clearing goods round the clock which would reduce clearance time from average of eight days to within 48 hours.

Officials said the project would modernise import and export clearance procedures by introducing the concept of risk management and self-assessment.

The vising World Bank team would also be given briefing on the proposed model sales tax house in Karachi by integrating the East and West collectorates of sales tax, Karachi.

The model sales tax would provide all facilities to taxpayers under one roof, said the officials.

The visiting World Bank mission is doing pre-appraisal review of medium and long term strategy of CBR’s administrative reforms.