KARACHI: Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Finance Miniter said that each year on the 26th of January, Customs Administrations around the globe celebrate the International Customs Day. The day is celebrated under the aegis of World Customs Organization (WCO), which has 177 members worldwide. The WCO Secretariat in Brussels has announced this year’s International Customs Day theme as “Communication: sharing information for better cooperationâ€.
In its efforts to help Customs officers understand the changed environment in which Customs now operates, Federal Board of Revenue has made remarkable achievements. Establishment of new Customs stations on country’s borders, reorganization and up-gradation of existing facilities entail the commitment of Pakistan Customs & FBR with this year’s theme of International Customs Day.
Today, Customs is facing new challenges, which have increased their responsibilities to ensure smooth flow of trade by applying necessary controls on one hand, while guaranteeing the protection, health and safety of the economy & community on the other. This dual role of Pakistan Customs demands that they must remain vigilant, vibrant and also endeavor to enhance co-operation with other Customs Administrations so as to make the best possible use of all the resources and instruments available, by demonstrating a higher level of integrity from decision making to law enforcement, being in the front line in the fight against trafficking of drugs & chemical precursors, fiscal frauds and smuggling of other contrabands.
Pakistan Customs is one of very few organizations who pioneered in designing and automating their clearance and audit systems. It is a known fact that increase in trade volumes cannot be handled without state of the art clearance system and the department’s efforts in this regard must be appreciated. Introduction and up-gradation of automated environment coupled with exchange of information is indeed a remarkable achievement providing benefit to all stakeholders i.e. the Government, trade & industry; as well as the global community.
Even though considerable progress has been made, a great deal remains to be achieved in the field of trade facilitation, revenue generation, combating smuggling and fight against drug trafficking. I wish that Pakistan Customs meet all these challenges and congratulate all officers and officials on this auspicious International Customs Day.