The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has made a significant change in how it monitors containers carrying goods from seaports to Afghanistan. Instead of using satellite tracking, the FBR has decided to rely on human monitoring. This decision comes after the FBR stopped working with TPL Trakker, the company that had been using satellite tracking to monitor these containers since 2013.
The change has caused concern, as the new companies hired by the FBR are not fully equipped to track containers. While they can track the vehicles carrying the goods, they cannot track the containers themselves. This raises the risk of smuggling, as there is no longer a way to keep a close eye on the containers during their journey.
The FBR has assigned four new companies to monitor the cargo, but these companies lack experience in container tracking. They only have the technology to track vehicles using Prime Mover Devices (PMDs), which are installed on the vehicles, not the containers. In the past, containers had their own surveillance devices called Container Surveillance Devices (CSDs), but the new contractors do not have these devices.
As part of the new plan, the FBR has asked Customs offices along the transit route to assign more staff for human monitoring. This is seen as a temporary solution, as the FBR plans to bring back the use of CSDs once they are available in the country.
The decision to switch to human monitoring has been criticized. Transporters now face higher costs as they must pay extra for the installation of PMDs on vehicles. In addition, they must pay a fee for every trip made under the new system. This has led to complaints from transporters who are worried about the increased expenses.
Despite these challenges, the FBR is trying to manage the risks by using other methods like scanning cargo at ports and keeping track of cargo in real-time. The FBR has also arranged for convoy movements to be escorted by Customs officials to ensure safety.
The FBR’s decision to stop working with TPL Trakker has raised questions. TPL Trakker has denied the FBR’s claims that it was not performing adequately. The company explained that their IT system was down for a short period due to a cyberattack but was fully restored afterward. TPL also stated that it used hybrid devices that combined both satellite and GSM tracking, ensuring the cargo was monitored properly.
The changes made by the FBR have created uncertainty and concern, especially since the new contractors do not have the same level of technology and experience in container tracking. The shift to human monitoring is seen as a temporary fix, but it remains to be seen whether this approach will effectively reduce smuggling risks in the future.
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