GILGIT BALTISTAN: The Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan wrote a letter to FBR on the topic of WeBOC installation at Sost dry port in which he narrated that if matter is not solved early it can lead to serious law and order situation in GB while due to strike since May 1, 2018 large number of containers are parked at Sost and traders have to pay amount as dockyard charges.
According to details, the issue was raised by GB Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding introduction of WeBOC system.
The Chief Secretary Kazam Niaz through letter No.2-PS/Secy/KA&GB/2018 in which he wrote to Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) that GB business community time and again was approaching GB government regarding issue with introduction of Web based One Customs (WeBOC) for Customs clearance at Sost and the customs clearance activities at Sost remained suspended since opening of the border on 1st April 2018 owing to WeBOC, for electronic processing of customs, which required effective internet facilities and skilled human resource. Large number of containers are parked at Sost and traders have to pay huge sums as dockyard charges.
Kazam Niaz notified that traders of GB threatened the government and demanded that manual one customs system shall be continued till availability of internet facilities and skilled human resources to operate such system. The secretary noted that it is not out of context to mention here that GB has attained greater sensitivity since the launch of CPEC initiative. Moreover due to the special status of GB, diverse ethnic and sectarian make-up and recent anti-tax movement, he said that it is very easy to damage GB’s peace which has been achieved due to the efforts and sacrifices of all stakeholders during last couple of years.
The secretary wrote to FBR that GB government convened a meeting with all stakeholders and it was agreed that prior to introduction of WeBOC there is a need to train the importers/exporters to get themselves acquainted with the online customs management system. He added that stakeholders agreed for gradual transition to the WeBOC and desired that the present manual service of one customs shall continue till provision of high speed internet.
It was reported that WeBOC system has been suspended in Torkham, KPK and Chaman due to connectivity and lack of human resources.
