Automation is the only way to ensure trade facilitation and bring country out of fiscal challenges, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said.
In a statement here Tariq Mahmood, Chairman FPCCI Standing Committees on Pharmaceutical, Law and Order stressed the need for automation of economy for revenue enhancement and for strengthening national economy.
Meanwhile talking to women entrepreneurs at Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI), he said that movement of goods through automation should be improved to reduce cost, maximise efficiency, and boost forex reserves as well as tax collections.
Tariq Mahmood who is also President Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) claimed that said rollback of Pakistan Automated Customs Computerized System (PaCCS) has complicated the overall process hurting business community and tax collections.
He said that reintroduction of semiautomatic and manual clearance procedures was a blow to the trade facilitation efforts which is resulting in delays, penalties, lost business opportunities and reduced competitiveness.
Improvement of transport infrastructure, good governance, modernization of customs administration, removal of non-tariff trade barriers, and other operational improvements should feature high on government's agenda to boost economic activity, he maintained.
On the occasion, Samina Fazil, founder President IWCCI was of the view
that she is receiving complaints from importers after PaCCS was replaced with faulty Web Based One Customs (WeBOC).
The undependable software installed on terminals will pave way for losses, illegal payments and frauds, she said.
Samina Fazil said that collection is mainly based on imports and exports which must be facilitated.