Electronic monitoring of tobacco, cement, sugar, fertilizer: FBR to roll out 'Track and Trace System' by June 30, 2021

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will rollout the Track and Trace System for electronic monitoring of tobacco, cement, sugar and fertilizer by June 30, 2021.

The FBR has successfully held pre-bidding conference for the grant of five year license for IT-based solution for electronic monitoring (Track and Trace System) of specified goods i.e. tobacco, cement, sugar and fertilizer.

The pre-licensing conference was held on Friday at FBR Headquarter which was attended by 25 participants physically and another 15 participants joined through zoom. Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member (IR-Operation) and Tariq Hussain Shaikh, Project Director, (Track & Trace System) conducted the conference and explained the functions, features and purpose of implementing the Track and Trace System in Pakistan, which includes minimum human interface, preventing leakage of revenue, under reporting sales of specified goods and to ensure proper payment of duty/taxes.

The participants showed their interest in the project and asked very relevant and pertinent questions. FBR team responded all queries in professional manner to the satisfaction of the participants, which gave more clarity and understanding about the implementation and operationalization of the Track and Trace System. FBR team further clarified that last date of the bids is December 19, 2020 which cannot be extended, as the Track and Trace System has been planned to be rolled out by June 30, 2021.

The Licensee shall be responsible for safe and secure capture and real or near-real time transmission of the System related information from the production lines, factory premises and designated import stations to FBR control rooms. In addition, the Licensee shall ensure that the System relevant monitoring data captured in the field by FBR or representatives of other duly authorized Pakistan Government agencies are transmitted in the manner that will be readable/ translatable for the purpose of the License, without incurring any additional cost to the Goods manufacturers. In both cases, the Licensee shall ensure that in case of network outages the data shall be securely stored for later synchronization with FBR control rooms.

The Licensee shall provide a complete MIS, including analytical dashboard, enabling FBR to access and evaluate the events, gaps and other deviations from the normal production process. The data shall be displayed on a geographical map of Pakistan that will enable data analytics and effective reporting by FBR, the tobacco data collection and reporting need to support the compliance by Pakistan with its obligations under Articles 8 and 9 of the FCTC Protocol.

Ownership of the System data will vest with FBR on behalf of the Government of Pakistan. The Licensee will have the right to access and use the System data solely for the authorised operation of the System. The Licensee shall not disclose the data to any third parties including affiliates and keep the data confidential.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020