Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial visited the Pakistan Single Window office in Karachi to review progress on digital trade facilitation and a range of ongoing technology initiatives being developed to modernize the country’s customs processes. The Chairman was accompanied by Member Customs Operations Syed Shakeel Shah, along with several senior FBR officials, reflecting the level of institutional attention being given to the digital trade agenda currently underway between FBR and PSW.
During the visit, the Chairman appreciated the PSW team for its continued efforts in advancing Pakistan’s digital trade ecosystem, with specific recognition given to the WeBOC 2.0 and PACE team for their work modernizing and streamlining customs related processes. This acknowledgment points to WeBOC 2.0 and PACE as central components of the broader digital transformation effort currently underway within Pakistan’s customs administration, with the visit serving as an opportunity for senior FBR leadership to directly engage with the technical teams responsible for building and maintaining these systems. Beyond reviewing technical progress, the Chairman also interacted directly with PSW staff, exchanging views on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the broader IT sector, a conversation that suggests ongoing consideration within FBR of how AI technologies might further shape the direction of customs modernization efforts going forward.
The visit was framed within the context of a broader reform agenda that Langrial has pursued since taking on his role as FBR Chairman, with the organization having embarked on what it describes as an ambitious digitalization driven reform programme. Under his leadership, FBR has introduced several new initiatives within the customs domain, including faceless customs processing, an AI enabled risk management system, and a broader WeBOC transformation effort, each of which has received IT development and implementation support from PSW. This pattern suggests PSW has positioned itself as a key technology partner supporting FBR’s customs modernization goals, providing the underlying digital infrastructure needed to implement policy level reforms announced by the tax authority.
PSW described itself as honoured to host the FBR Chairman at its Karachi office and reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting FBR and Pakistan Customs in designing and implementing further digital initiatives aimed at facilitating cross border trade. The visit adds to a broader pattern of engagement between FBR leadership and the technical teams responsible for executing its digitalization agenda, reflecting continued institutional focus on modernizing Pakistan’s customs and trade facilitation infrastructure as the country works to streamline processes for businesses engaged in international trade.
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