ISLAMABAD: In his message on International Customs Day, Member Customs Operations Owais Jawwad Agha said, “As part of the global Customs community, Pakistan Customs shall also participate in the string of celebrations being held worldwide by Customs Administrations on January 26, 2019 to commemorate International Customs Day, 2019”.
This year’s theme of swift and smooth cross-border movement of goods, people and means of transport with the slogan “SMART borders for seamless Trade, Travel and Transport” is highly relevant since the rapid spread of globalization has led to enhanced international trade and cross-border movement of goods and people. As international trade acts as a vehicle for economic development, it is important that Customs Administrations facilitate trade through the employment of SMART borders that envision the use of streamlined, harmonized Customs procedures and increased sharing of data both for trade facilitation and protection against smuggling and illegal movement of people.
Pakistan Customs has already made headway in automation of its processes, particularly with the development and implementation of WeBOC (Web Based One Customs) software for the automated clearance of import, export and transit cargo. This has laid the basis for future endeavors involving the electronic exchange of information, electronic delivery of services, risk-based decision making and the Single Window concept etc., while taking into account both cyber safety and data security.
Although international trade is the lifeblood of the global economy and must be encouraged, it unfortunately also attracts illicit activities for which SMART borders are the ultimate solution. This becomes even more significant in light of the fact that with the implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan shall become a hub of regional and international trade.
Pakistan Customs is already working to balance its objectives of trade facilitation with enforcement, through active participation in the WCO’s Security Programme, including the effective launch of the Container Control Programme in all enforcement Collectorates. Other border security challenges that are being addressed include enhanced passenger controls through the planned implementation of the Advance Passenger Information System; Strategic Trade Control Enforcement involving checks on the import of dual use precursor chemicals, and anti terrorist financing controls like the National Targeting Centre.
I heartily congratulate my Customs team on this occasion with the undertaking that we shall continue to strive for greater professionalism in line with international best practices, to ensure the facilitation of international trade and passenger traffic along with the enhancement of effective-intrusive controls through SMART borders.
