The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will introduce the concept of virtual assessment of imported goods to replace with the existing system of Appraisers Assessments at ports.

The FBR Member Customs (Policy), Dr Muhammad Saeed Khan Jadoon, informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, on Thursday that the FBR is going for the process of virtual assessments of imported goods.

This would be done in parallel with the existing procedure of Appraisers Assessments of the imported goods. The project of virtual assessment is being tested at the level of the FBR headquarters. The purpose is to minimise the role of the Customs Appraisers in the assessment of the imported goods. The use of artificial intelligence would help in eliminating the role of the Customs Appraisers in the assessment of imported goods.