FBR Implements Interim Measures for Safe Transit Cargo to Afghanistan, Plans Advanced Tracking System

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken major steps for monitoring and safe transportation of transit and transshipment cargo to Afghanistan. According to the details released by the FBR on Thursday, it was reported regarding FBR’s new process of monitoring the Transit cargo according to which satellite tracking has been replaced with human monitoring only. It has been reported in the press that the license of the only company having a satellite tracking system has been revoked abruptly and the same has been awarded to four tracking companies that qualified technically four years ago. It was alleged that these companies do not possess modern tracking equipment and significant experience. Such news items are based on a lack of understanding about the previous system, the present interim arrangement, and FBR’s wholehearted efforts to put in place a vibrant, risk-free, and state-of-the-art technology-based new system. The license of the company that was tracking the cargo movement since 2013 was not terminated abruptly and without valid grounds rather it was done after following the due process of law and on account of the following charges: This resulted in breaking the monopoly/hegemony of the company providing substandard services while charging exorbitant charges making windfall profits and compromising the integrity of the en-route cargo. The credentials of four companies entrusted to the task of tracking transit cargo these companies were technically evaluated and found eligible by the Licensing Committee and in fact they were granted the license under Tracking and Monitoring of Cargo Rules but the same had to be canceled in view of the court cases. The following steps have been taken to ensure safe transportation of transit & transshipment cargo during the interim time: The FBR has already initiated the tendering process of new EOI to select well-qualified companies after a competitive and transparent bidding process to ensure the newest technologies are deployed at the earliest for effective cargo tracking and monitoring. The requirement of Container Surveillance Devices (CSDs) for the tracking companies has not been discontinued rather the new cargo tracking and monitoring system envisaged by FBR aims at utilizing the latest GSM and Satellite tracking technologies. The ongoing fresh Expression of Interest (EOI) process will lead to the selection of qualified companies after a competitive and transparent process to ensure the newest technologies are deployed at the earliest for foolproof cargo tracking and monitoring, FBR added.