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Washington DC, March 17, 2004: Under the auspices and supervision of the World Bank, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) of the Government of Pakistan announced the selection of MicroClear as its platform of choice for the implementation of its comprehensive customs and revenue modernization program. As part of the CBR’s ambitious modernization program, and pending contract completion, PWC Logistics will supply, configure and implement MicroClear, a web based solution that benefits public and private sector stakeholders as well as the Government of Pakistan’s international trading partners.
The contract was tendered and awarded under the supervision of the World Bank. The CBR has approximately 80 ports with millions of transactions taking place annually and a multi-billion dollar annual revenue stream from customs and related VAT assessment. The CBR will initially implement Microclear on the basis of a Pilot program. Upon successful completion of the Pilot, Microclear is expected to provide the basis for the CBR’s proposed customs and revenue modernization program.
MicoClear® was judged as technically superior based on an independent evaluation supervised by the World Bank. Based on the evaluation criteria point system developed and supervised by the World Bank, MicoClear® scored 36% better, a testimony to the rich functionality and solid architecture behind MicoClear®. The results of the World Bank’s technical evaluation were as follows:
| Solution Provider/Solution | Technical Score1 | PWC Logistics (MICROCLEAR®)
Crown Agents
Elsag SPA
IBM, Crimson Logic, Tatis & Asycuda
| 84.6
63.7
66.5
53.6
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Note1 Technical Evaluation results were confirmed by the World Bank’s following appeal of tender results.
MicoClear® is a state-of-the-art, fully-integrated solution, that delivers secure and efficient processing of customs and related supply chain processes through a secure web-based network. The solution's architecture is based on the Dot.Net web services framework, and is designed for building tailored, scalable customs clearance solutions, that optimize user experience and provide managers with real-time analytics. PWC Logistics will work in partnership with Microsoft Consulting Services for the engagement.
MicoClear® is designed to rapidly accommodate diverse organizational patterns and requirements, while maintaining uniformity and compliance to common international standards like WTO, WCO and GATT. The Solution leverages different types of security protocols (ex. encryption, certification, role based access, etc.) thereby ensuring that the security strategy is customizable to each organization’s requirements. The Solution also provides the CBR a comprehensive site hosting, data storage, telecommunication, and disaster recovery services to ensure the continuity of services as well as data integrity.
By implementing MicoClear®, the CBR will facilitate trade by simplifying procedures and related workflows and by using sophisticated risk management techniques to reduce clearance times while addressing important national security concerns including requirements emanating from Operation Safe Commerce and CSI initiatives. MicoClear® will enable commerce and trade while substantially improving the supply chain economics of doing business in Pakistan. Customs clearance time is expected to be reduced from 10 days to less than 48 hours and all transactions will take place through secure web-based communications thus minimizing paper work while improving transparency and consistency through the introduction of uniform business practices and standards of service.
The tender was awarded following an international bidding process supervised by the World Bank on the basis of PWC Logistics’ track record, as well as MicoClear®’s technical superiority and extensibility to other important revenue and e-government applications, as well as the ability to deploy a comprehensive customs modernization and supply chain solution customized to local needs and requirements in less than 12 weeks.
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