ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs (PC) on Monday launched “WeBOC-Glo” — a modern version of WeBOC Customs’ clearance system — to ensure speedy clearance of goods in order to reduce parking time at ports to facilitate businesses.

An official statement released by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said that WeBOC-Glo will be a technologically advanced version of WeBOC, which is an end-to-end automated online goods clearance system home grown by PC in 2011.

The WeBOC-Glo in addition to new modules and functionalities will plug clearance system deficiencies pointed out during internal reviews and Information, Communication and Technology Gap Analysis conducted by the World Bank.

The Release 1.0 of the WeBOC-Glo with 13 modules and functionalities includes functions such as Development of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) with terminal operators for export-bound less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo to reduce dwell time at ports.

The Quota Management of Bulk Export Cargo will facilitate auto debiting of assigned quota and the establishment of IT interface with Ministry of Foreign Affairs for automation of exemption certificates.

The WeBOC-Glo will be available on Chrome and Edge browsers in order to deliver user convenience and will also include enhanced security features to safeguard User IDs and relevant data of importers/exporters, unified screens for MIS officers to ensure speedy processing and will also be equipped with search engine for TARIFF and relevant statutory regulatory orders to educate users on tariff and trade policy information for correct filling and assessment of goods declarations (GDs).

Further functions of the new system include updates on container status allowing traders to track containers, improved user interface aimed at making the system more users friendly and less time consuming.

Moreover, the new system also includes Glo Insight to strengthen statistical scrutiny and monitoring of customs-related transactions through business intelligence and data analysis tools for informed decision making.

In addition to these features, WeBOC-Glo will be instrumental in closure of old customs clearance system by automating areas that had remained outside its scope so far, such as the Export Processing Zone, whose import and export clearances along with the role and functions of Export Processing Zones Authority have been automated for the first time.

The system will also cover GD Filing without the need for National Tax Number to facilitate individual importers, Small and Medium Enterprises promoting e-Commerce in Pakistan, the exceptional GD filing, which caters to all scenarios where auto clearances were held up due to peculiar taxation regimes on items or specific orders of superior courts.

The Release-2 of WeBOC-Glo will be launched by the first week of July which will include further important modules like Duty and Tax Remission Scheme, Bulk Exports and Exports through Courier.

Furthermore, the Release-2 will also include e-Auction Module, for confiscated goods in line with modern concepts of auction.

Moreover, the Release-2 will also cover all processes related to import, storage, transportation and transit of oil. Similarly, Post-clearance audit (PCA) entity-based audit module will also included in the Release-2, which will dramatically enhance money trail analysis and detect money laundering.

Initial work has already been completed on these modules and they are under different stages of development. Some less important modules will be launched in Release-3 by September which will completely automate all customs-related processes under WeBOC-Glo.

Earlier, Member Customs FBR Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha conceived the idea of upgradation and functionally advanced new customs system and had put in place a two-tier setup, the WeBOC-Glo Domain team and Oversight and Approval Team, in December, 2018.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2019