PM Shehbaz unveils FBR's first AI-powered customs system
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched Pakistan's first-ever artificial intelligence-based Customs Clearance and Risk Management System (RMS), Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif announced during a meeting to review ongoing FBR reforms.
Under the new system, AI and BOTs will assess the nature and cost of imported and exported goods. Officials said the system will use machine learning to automate and refine customs operations over time, reducing delays and human intervention.
Initial testing showed a 92% improvement in system performance. Tax determination through Goods Declarations (GD) rose by 83%, while green channel clearances more than doubled.
The government expects the RMS to increase transparency, boost efficiency and reduce pressure on customs officials. The AI tools are designed to offer faster, more accurate estimates, saving time for both authorities and traders.
Prime Minister Sharif called FBR reforms a 'top priority' and said automating the tax system would help ensure fairness and convenience for taxpayers.
'By automating the tax system, we are making it more transparent and effective,' the prime minister said adding that the technology-based modern system will bring ease in doing business and provide convenience to taxpayers.
The premier also reviewed new video analytics-based tax collection tools targeting the manufacturing sector.
These technologies are expected to enhance revenue collection without direct human involvement and were found to be 98% efficient during pilot tests.
Ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb (Finance), Attaullah Tarar (Information), FBR Chairman and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
FBR shortfall to cost K-P Rs100b, says CM aide
K-P Chief Minister Advisor on Finance Muzzammil Aslam said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs1,200 billion less in revenue, which will result in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa receiving Rs100 billion less in federal transfers. Addressing the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Post-Budget Conference, the CM's aide said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa transferred Rs150 billion into the Debt Management Fund last year, which will yield Rs17 billion in annual revenue. This revenue will be the highest of any department in the province after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA). Advisor Muzzammil Aslam emphasised that all departments should work on increasing revenue and strengthening monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the betterment of the province. He noted it is the duty of the province's approximately 700,000 employees to immediately provide relief to the population of 45 million and to do justice to their positions. He further stressed the importance of aligning budgetary resources with grassroots needs and reiterated the government's commitment to converting financial planning into real and tangible improvements in people's lives. Special Secretary Finance Muhammad Asif presented the key features of the budget, outlining revenue estimates, expenditure priorities, sectoral allocations, fiscal discipline, and reform initiatives included in the 2025-26 budget. The objective of the post-budget conference was to provide a shared platform for understanding and discussion on the recently presented provincial budget – an important milestone to promote transparency, accountability, and public understanding of the budget's priorities and implications. The conference was attended by Secretary Finance Amer Sultan Tareen, Special Secretary Budget Muhammad Asif, Special Secretary Regulation Abidullah Kakakhel, as well as secretaries of various departments, additional secretaries, deputy secretaries, budget officers, and economists.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz pledges inclusive economic policy in meeting with top business leaders
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met with leading industrialists and business figures to discuss Pakistan's economic outlook, export potential, and private sector challenges, reiterating the government's commitment to sustained economic growth and investor-friendly reforms. Welcoming the participants, the prime minister said economic stabilisation was the result of relentless efforts by his economic team, adding that the focus had now shifted towards long-term development, industrial expansion, job creation, and attracting foreign investment. 'We must now harness local resources to make Pakistan economically self-reliant,' he said, emphasizing regular consultation with business leaders to align policies with ground realities. The premier vowed to personally meet with representatives of the business community every month to incorporate their feedback into the policy-making process. 'I am hopeful our future engagements will be as meaningful and result-oriented as today's,' he added. Business-friendly policies infuse foreign investors' trust: PM The participants appreciated the government's efforts under the prime minister's leadership, especially in securing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after a prolonged and challenging negotiation process. They termed the recently announced federal budget a 'people-friendly and pro-business' step and underlined the need for aligning policies with the demands of commerce, industry and foreign investors. They also called for expanding facilitation for exporters and investors to boost foreign direct investment (FDI). The business leaders praised the ongoing tax reforms and transparency in customs clearance systems at ports and welcomed the inclusion of private sector suggestions in the formulation of industrial development policies. Federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Awais Leghari, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Hanif Abbasi, and Jand Anwar Chaudhry were present at the meeting. Prime Minister's Agriculture Coordinator Ahmad Umair, FBR Chairman and other senior officials also attended. Federal Budget: PM pledges more facilities for investors Briefing the participants, officials said the budget aimed to provide relief to the common man, businesses and investors while remaining within available resources. They noted Pakistan had ample potential for investment and industrial expansion, and efforts were underway to strengthen communication between the government and private sector. The business community was assured that cost-reduction measures, particularly lower power tariffs, were being accelerated to make Pakistani exports more competitive. FBR's ongoing digitization, they said, would further ease business operations and investment. Officials also highlighted progress on the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, the introduction of a modern IT ecosystem for the first time in the country's history, and the adoption of AI-driven systems in agriculture and other sectors. Consultations with the private sector, especially exporters, were being intensified to expand port operations and make Gwadar Port fully functional, they said. Prominent figures from the textile, agriculture, cement, and information technology sectors attended the meeting.
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business Recorder
‘Appeal effect orders': tax experts decry FBR working
ISLAMABAD: Tax advisers have expressed serious concern over the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)'s working while passing 'appeal effect orders' by its field formations or passing orders without considering replies of the taxpayers. According to a communication of Javed Iqbal Qazi, advocate Supreme Court and chairman Pakistan Tax Advisors Association to the Prime Minister, the FBR functionaries are not working in accordance with the law; neither appeal effect orders are being passed within the stipulated time nor replies submitted by the taxpayers or their counsels are being considered while passing orders; even when the reply is submitted through the IRIS system. He said: 'In a meeting of the Association, it was decided to bring to your attention the state of affairs of the country and role of different functionaries, vis-à-vis taxation. The replies filed are being ignored and subsequently repeated notices are being issued and finally the orders are being passed to create heavy demand against the taxpayer so as to achieve the arbitrary targets of collection; thus the taxpayer is being punished with heavy taxes.' He said there is no supervisory role of senior officers; i.e., additional commissioners, commissioners and chief commissioners as such the working condition of the department has deteriorated by this deliberate act of the FBR officers; this leading lack of confidence of the taxpayers and its counsels on the departmental officers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
