ASSISTANT TO THE PM ON REVENUE
Pakistan Customs being a member of the international Customs fraternity is celebrating International Customs day on 26th January, 2016. It’s an occasion to demonstrate the efforts and achievements of the Customs administration in realization of government revenues, facilitation of international trade, as well as, enforcing the controls at the international borders to safeguard the society from the inflow of illicit and dangerous goods.
In order to underscore the critical need of automation and connectivity in enforcing controls and extending facilitation to international trade, World Customs Organization (WCO) has chosen the theme of “Digital Customs”, with the slogan of “Progressive Engagement”, for this year’s Customs Day. Since Customs administrations around the world interact with the global supply chains, it becomes imperative to adopt best international practices for ensuring smooth and seamless movement of goods across borders. This is possible only through automated Customs processes. Pakistan Customs has invested considerable resources in bridging the digital gap. A fine example of the efforts made by Pakistan Customs is the indigenously developed system of Customs clearances known as WeBOC and I am glad to say that it is able to process more than 97% of trade, import, export or transit crossing Pakistan’s borders,.
A Customs administration must aim to strike a delicate balance between trade facilitation and Customs controls. The digitization of Customs procedures is perhaps the only way to achieve this fine balance. I hope that Pakistan Customs will continue to follow the path of modernization and trade facilitation.
In the end, I extend my warm felicitations to the officers and officials of Pakistan Customs on this auspicious International Customs Day.