Karachi, January 8, 2025 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif launched the Faceless Customs Assessment System at the Karachi Port on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s customs operations. This innovative system, part of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) modernization efforts, was introduced under Shehbaz’s leadership and aims to streamline customs clearance procedures. The Faceless Customs Assessment System is designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and integrity in the clearance process. With the system now in place, the time required for customs clearance has been drastically reduced. Importers can expect their goods to be cleared in as little as 15 to 20 minutes, with the maximum clearance time extending to 19 hours. This substantial reduction in clearance time promises to significantly improve the ease of doing business in the country, facilitating smoother trade operations at the Karachi Port. One of the standout features of the Faceless system is its elimination of direct interaction between importers and customs officers. Under this system, neither the customs officers nor the importers know each other’s identities. This ‘faceless’ interaction ensures a higher degree of impartiality and reduces the potential for corruption, as the anonymity of the process minimizes opportunities for malpractice. This approach is…