A consortium responsible for managing Pakistan’s Track & Trace System (TTS) has rejected reports suggesting that the system was responsible for recent disruptions in the sugar supply chain. In a statement issued Thursday, the consortium termed the claims “misinformed,” explaining that such reports misrepresent the TTS’s operational scope and create confusion about how different digital systems function within the regulatory framework.
According to the clarification, the TTS’s core function is to monitor production, affix secure tax stamps, and ensure accurate reporting of manufactured goods at the production level. It does not oversee dispatch authorization, gate clearances, or field enforcement activities, which are handled by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and its IT subsidiary, PRAL. The consortium stated that these responsibilities are clearly defined under its contract and that any disruption in the flow of goods lies outside its operational control.
The consortium further explained that the recent interruptions in sugar distribution were caused by downtime in PRAL’s S-Track Portal — an internal system that manages dispatch operations for the sugar industry. “When the S-Track Portal faces downtime, it directly affects dispatches and logistics,” the statement said. “However, this system is entirely separate from the Track & Trace System, which continues to function independently and without interruption.” The consortium emphasized that equating the two systems risks creating misinformation and undermines the confidence of stakeholders in the digital reforms being implemented across the manufacturing sector.
Globally, track and trace systems are widely used to ensure transparency in the production and distribution of goods by monitoring them from factory to market. However, in Pakistan, responsibilities are distributed: the consortium handles production-level monitoring and tax stamping, while FBR and PRAL manage enforcement, verification, and dispatch control. The consortium noted that this model has already contributed to improved compliance and higher tax revenue in multiple sectors, including sugar, tobacco, cement, and fertilizers.
The consortium urged media outlets to verify technical and operational distinctions before attributing logistical issues to the TTS. It warned that inaccurate reporting could damage public trust in Pakistan’s broader efforts to digitize tax collection and supply chain management. The statement reiterated that the Track & Trace System remains fully operational, adding that it continues to play a critical role in promoting transparency, reducing tax evasion, and strengthening accountability across regulated industries.
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