KARACHI: Collector Appraisement East Majid Yousfani in his message on the occasion of the International Customs Day said that the world Customs community celebrates the International Customs Day on January 26. The Customs play a pivotal role in economic development through efficient controls and the facilitation of legitimate trade.
In the prevailing scenario, securing global trade requires international cooperation and coordination among the governments and trade bodies as well as with other members of WCO. The Customs has new responsibilities which cannot be addressed without necessary skills, knowledge and coordination with all agencies.
It is essential to broaden the horizons, enhance the competence and improve the efficiency of Customs administration through better performance, transparency and development of new techniques and systems. I congratulate Pakistan Customs on the introduction and successful countrywide rollout of indigenously developed new software WEBOC (Web Based One Customs) for automated clearance.
The department is moving on the path of modernization and intends employing sophisticated equipment at border stations, airports and seaports in collaboration with international Development Partners like UNODC, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID, JICA, DFID, GIZ, IFC, etc.
I take the opportunity to state that, in an era of declining resources and increasing volumes of trade and travel, effective engagement and information exchange with all allied agencies and partners is a necessity for Customs. The Custom clearance system, WEBOC, connects all internal and external users through electronic interface. It has the potential to become the lead system which connects all border agencies for data and information sharing so that in time the trader can enjoy a one-window facility making Custom and border clearance much more facilitative, easy and faster for all businesses.
I also would like to congratulate all officers and officials of Pakistan Customs on this special day of global importance and hope that the department will continue its commitment in achieving revenue targets, facilitating trade and passenger traffic, besides demonstrating efficiency to counter trafficking of drugs and smuggling of narcotics. We have to improve in all fields to contribute positively in the domestic economic growth and consolidation of international trade relations in consonance with the WCO’s 2015 slogan of coordination.
