KARACHI: Collector Exports, Custom House, Saifuddin Junejo in his message on the occasion of “International Customs Day| said that “Pakistan Customs celebrates International Customs Day (ICD) every year on January 26 like other Customs administrations around the world. The main ceremony is always held in Custom House, Karachi. This day actually commemorates the day of 1953, when the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was established in Brussels, Belgium, in which 17 European countries participated. In 1994, the CCC was renamed as World Customs Organization (WCO) and as of today, Customs organizations from 179 countries are WCO members, most of which celebrate this day.
International Customs Day recognizes the role of Customs officials in maintaining border security by ensuring enforcement actions, as well as, economic security by generating revenue for the nations. It focuses on the working conditions and challenges being faced by Customs officers and staff in their jobs.
On International Customs Day, Customs administrations around the globe, organize events where Customs officers and staff are recognized for their exemplary services. workshops, conferences and seminars are held, focusing on the year’s theme and the challenges that Customs organizations and officers face in the line of their duties. This year, the WCO has dedicated year 2016 to promoting the digitalization of Customs process under the slogan “Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement.” Like all Customs administrations around the world, Pakistan Customs is planning to utilize the opportunity to showcase and further promote use of Information and Communication Technologies. After PaCCS, Pakistan Customs has successfully designed its own automated system, now famously known as WeBOC, which means Web Based One Customs. The system is truly an indigenous system developed by the dedicated team of PRAL under the leadership of officers of Pakistan Customs. WeBOC is, now, successfully working throughout Pakistan and soon it is going to achieve 100% coverage of imports and exports of Pakistan from all Customs stations. WeBOC is of the most efficient automated system of Customs clearances in the world and that too on a minimum cost of Rs.100 million, as compared to Rs.10,000 million demanded by M/s Agility for paperless erstwhile PaCCS. Hence, development of WeBOC is a great achievement of Pakistan Customs, specially, in line with this years’ slogan of WCO of “Digital Customs”.
Pakistan Customs is not only digital, but also far ahead in the digitalization of all its processes and procedures. The WeBOC has greatly improved the overall efficiency of the Customs organization in Pakistan and helped in reducing corruption as well prevailing in the system; but most of it, it has facilitated trade and industry of Pakistan to a great extent. On 16th January, the World Bank has launched its annual report for the year, 2016; which is titled as “Digital Dividends”. This report talks about use of digital technologies and have concluded in the report that “digital technologies have boosted growth, expanded opportunities and improved service delivery”.
Pakistan Customs have truly achieved these objectives far earlier and far-a-head of many Customs administrations in the world. However, not only there is need for further improvement in the WeBOC system, but also urgent need for its “analogue component”, such as making laws and rules / procedures compliant with digitalization, improving skills of Customs officers & staff, and ensuring that Customs organization is made more accountable institutionally. I am sure that this is one of the very important message on the eve of International Customs Day being celebrated on 26th January, 2016 with traditional fervor, energy and passion.|”
