Entities under Federal Board of Revenue have come under scrutiny as the Ministry of Commerce (Pakistan) and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce that Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and Pakistan Single Window (PSW) were responsible for an $11 billion discrepancy in the country’s reported import data.
The issue, which emerged from inconsistencies in trade figures between multiple government entities, has raised concerns about the accuracy of official trade reporting systems. Ministry officials clarified during the briefing that the discrepancy was procedural and statistical rather than financial, meaning it did not affect the actual flow of foreign exchange or the country’s balance of payments.
According to the ministry’s statement, Pakistan’s balance of payments is recorded and verified through State Bank of Pakistan, which maintains data based on actual foreign exchange transactions routed through formal banking channels. Since these records rely on verified inflows and outflows rather than declaratory or customs-assessed data, the discrepancy has not impacted financial stability.
Officials from PBS explained that for the last two years, the bureau had been collecting trade data from PRAL. However, the data provided by PRAL did not include transactions from the Export Finance Scheme, creating gaps between reported imports and actual trade activity. When PBS shifted to sourcing data from PSW, the issue was addressed, and similar discrepancies were not observed again.
During the committee session, the Chairman of the Standing Committee noted that the core of the problem lay in conflicting datasets generated by the two entities operating under FBR. Both the Ministry of Commerce and PBS acknowledged this assessment, agreeing that better synchronization between PRAL and PSW was essential for ensuring data accuracy.
Import data in Pakistan is recorded transaction-wise through the WEBOC system, based on electronic goods declarations submitted by importers. PRAL generates import data files from these declarations and distributes them to various ministries and departments for reporting purposes. However, discrepancies in coverage and categorization between PRAL and PSW have led to inconsistencies in official trade statistics.
The committee directed PBS to work closely with PRAL and PSW to eliminate such discrepancies going forward. The officials reiterated that the issue was technical in nature, stemming from the way data is captured and compiled by FBR’s digital platforms, not from any irregularity in financial transactions.
This development highlights the growing importance of aligning trade reporting mechanisms in Pakistan’s evolving digital trade environment. The transition from older reporting systems to more advanced platforms like PSW has already reduced inconsistencies, but coordination between entities remains critical to ensuring the integrity of national trade statistics.
As the country seeks to strengthen its trade governance frameworks, improved data transparency will be essential for policymaking, fiscal planning, and maintaining investor confidence.
Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updated across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.