MULTAN: Importers and exporters of South Punjab demanded up gradation of WeBOC system (Reforms and Automation) after its restoration for smooth clearance of shipments in the country.
It is pertinent to mention here that web-based customs clearing system (WeBOC) was shut down two days ago throughout the country. The WeBOC system collapsed stopping all import and export clearances.
Director WeBOC Riaz Memon said there were some technical issues in the system, which caused malfunction. However, the system was restored by the evening.
South Punjab Clearing Agents Association Sheikh Basharat Ali said the system failure stopped all clearance causing problems and losses to the traders. He said that this was not the first time that WeBOC system shut down, as it happened numerous times in past.
He informed Customs Today that WeBOC System (Reforms and Automation) were managed by non-technical people and the entire Custom was dependent on PRAL. WeBOC is an indigenously developed, web-based computerized clearance system, providing end to end automated customs clearance of import and export goods. Subsequently, WeBOC was further rolled out at other terminals and customs stations.
Presently WEBOC has over 45,000 registered users i.e. businesses, government departments (Anti-Narcotic Force, Engineering Development Board, State Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of Climate Change, Railways, Income Tax Department, Provincial Motor Registering Authorities, Commercial Banks etc).
Presently, 30% import consignments are cleared immediately (Green channel – without any intervention), 49% on the basis of uploaded documents (Yellow channel) and 21% (Red channel – deemed high-risk goods). Importantly the system has brought about uniformity in customs clearances across the country and systems needs up gradation for smooth clearances of shipments.
