Latest news with #Declarations
Business Recorder
07-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FBR introduces Pakistan's first AI-powered customs clearance system
In a major move towards digitisation, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) unveiled Pakistan's first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Customs Clearance and Risk Management System (RMS). The new system, launched on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aimed at enhancing transparency, reducing human intervention, and facilitating trade, is expected to enhance the efficiency of import-export operations. The development came to light during a meeting regarding matters related to FBR held on Monday, read a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The briefing was told that under this system the cost and nature of goods, during import and export operations, will now be assessed using AI and bots. It was learnt that the risk management system will continue to improve automatically through machine learning, alongside the movement of goods. The meeting was informed that during initial testing, the new system demonstrated over 92% improved performance. The RMS not only determined 83% more Goods Declarations (GDs) for tax collection but also enabled 2.5 times more GDs to be cleared through the green channel. Pakistan's e-commerce sector faces operational costs surge amid new taxes The attendees were told that the new RMS will bring transparency to the system, minimize human intervention, and facilitate the business community. The system will allow instant and efficient estimation of goods and their value, resulting in time savings, the meeting noted. 'Reforming the FBR is among the top priorities of the government,' said PM Shehbaz. 'By automating the tax system, we are making it more transparent and effective. This technology-driven system will ease doing business and provide convenience to taxpayers,' he added. The prime minister also instructed that the new system be made integrated and sustainable, and praised the officers and staff involved in developing the new RMS. Moreover, a review meeting, chaired by PM Shehbaz, was held to assess ongoing FBR reforms. The meeting was informed about video analytics-based measures to improve tax collection in the manufacturing sector. The PM was told that through this system, tax recovery will be conducted in an automated and transparent manner. This will increase government revenue and allow taxpayers to pay taxes without human interaction. The system is low-cost and showed 98% efficiency during initial testing. Officials also briefed the meeting on the system's potential to increase tax collection from the manufacturing sector.
Wall Street Journal
30-05-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
What Do Students Think of War? A Vet Reports
I can't help but feel that Peggy Noonan wrote her column 'Memorial Day and the Best Movies of Our Lives' while wearing rose-colored glasses (Declarations, May 24). She writes that 'we're all recovering from World War II, or any war, or any era, together.' That's a nice thought, but it was far from my experience when I left the Marine Corps and went to college in 2014. I was more often called a 'cog in the military-industrial complex,' a 'mindless drone' or a 'baby-killer' than shown compassion or understanding by my peers, who had no connection to or real knowledge of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I tried to explain to the feminists in my English class some of the things I saw regarding the treatment of women overseas, they told me, 'That doesn't really happen.' People will always have different views on wars, but we've entered an era of denial, distortion and revisionist history. These experiences didn't end after my time in academia either. I hope Ms. Noonan will forgive me for not sharing her feelings of togetherness. Much of America has lost the plot about Memorial Day. I pray we can find it again someday. Daniel Carpenter
Wall Street Journal
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Michael Corleone's Counsel for Donald Trump
Regarding Peggy Noonan's column 'Canada, Our Friend, Deserves Better Than This' (Declarations, April 5): As a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, I agree that the Trump administration's diplomacy with Ottawa has been too disrespectful. Still, its approach may bring about positive developments. Canadians for years have had a smug sense of conceit of their cultural superiority over the U.S. Given President Trump's approach, however, they seem to be coming to the overdue realization they have to do more for themselves. That includes eliminating interprovincial trade barriers, increasing defense spending, addressing unfeasible immigration policies that have led to housing and social-service shortages and ramping up trade negotiations with other nations. Our neighbors now have the opportunity to prove their renowned politeness and grace by admitting that U.S. trade actions and rhetoric, though unartful, have led to introspection that could prove very beneficial.
Wall Street Journal
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
The Signal ‘Bros' Should Learn to Shape Up
Regarding Peggy Noonan's 'A New Administration's Signal Failure' (Declarations, March 29), while I agree that the administration's communications were reckless and irresponsible, I still feel safe with the 'bros,' as Ms. Noonan refers to them, who are taking care of our national security. For four years we had a president who was an empty vessel and wouldn't even know how to send a message on Signal. He alone posed the greatest security risk of my lifetime. I'll take the 'kids' and 'bros' we have now any day. At least they can understand and communicate when a crisis of any magnitude comes our way. Rozlyn Patterson Naperville, Ill. Ms. Noonan's advice to our nation's leaders involved in the Signal mess to 'stop acting like kids' was right on target. Or, as my dad, an Air Force command pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours, would say: 'Straighten up and fly right! Safety is no accident.' Kathleen Kingscott Cabin John, Md. Ms. Noonan seems more concerned with form than results. Yet she might have mentioned that the operation against the Houthis was highly successful, contrasting that with the Biden administration's tepid or nonexistent responses to the terror group's attacks in recent years. The success of this operation won't 'go unnoticed in any foreign capital' and will far outweigh any negative consequences of the 'messaging mess.' By my lights, it's this administration's propensity for action that will 'give the world a picture of a new administration.' To wit, you mess with the U.S. at your own peril. David B. Gerges Bonita Springs, Fla. I love the Journal, not least for its willingness to present various opinions on the same issue. Take Ms. Noonan's column, in which she states that the 'Signal mess is a real mess, not something that will fade away quickly,' equating it to JFK's Bay of Pigs disaster. On the same page, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. writes that 'the leak isn't the end of the world; it didn't endanger U.S. forces and the military strikes were successful' ('Leak Scandal Can Be GOP Lemonade,' Business World). There is a lot to understand about this issue, and I appreciate the diversity of opinion that these editorial pages provide. Randy Gaston Savannah, Ga.
