KABUL: Afghan Customs Department (ACD) celebrated International Custom day 2015 in a gorgeous function at it’s headquarter in Kabul.
On this occasion the Deputy Minister for Customs and Revenue Department (CRD) Mr. Gul Maqsood Sabit and the Director General of ACD Dr. Najibullah Wardak graced the reception and WCO Certificate of Merit awarding ceremony. The Directors of ACD, Head of Departments, Deputy Director of Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Mr. Khan Jan Alkozai, Director of Afghan Customs Brokers Mr. Haji Farid, Chief Executive Director of National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) Mr. Ezatullah Sediqi and Traders from private sector were present in the function among others.
20 (twenty) Customs officials and representatives from the public and private sector were awarded WCO Certificate of Merit for their contribution towards Afghan Customs (ACD) and demonstrated their commitment to the CBM theme “Coordinated Border Management – An inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders”.
In his key note speech, Mr. Gul Maqsood Sabit, Deputy Minister echoed the theme and stressed on the importance of border management for day-to-day Customs and trade facilitation affairs, both nationally and globally. ACD is now equipped with modern tools and technologies as compared to the previous years and will standardize its procedures and will take more steps in bringing the reforms for trade facilitation. He explained the importance of ASYCUDA World, latest version of which had been successfully implemented in many Customs houses. He further added that Customs officers got trainings in various Customs areas both locally and internationally and thanks to WCO for providing the overseas trainings under PGS program. He also emphasized that Afghan Customs should play vital role for the economic and social development of the country.
Speaking at the reception, Dr. Najibullah Wardak, Director General of ACD praised the achievements of Afghan Customs Officers and explained the importance of border management and appreciated the Airport Customs officials detected 25 Kg of Heroin at Hamid Karzai International Airport and to control over the import of miscellaneous goods and to legalize trade and bring more transparency. Beside, the Border Management Module (BMM) is based on the principle of the joint management of border activities between two ministries, Ministry of Interior MoI (ABP) and Ministry of Finance MoF (ACD), within an agreed framework and it would be applied as per the law. The ABP would continue to be the primary agency in control of immigration and national security while ACD would control international trade, and the BMM Module is implemented at Hairatan, Islam Qala, Sherkhan Bander, Aqina, Torkham and Weish. He also promised his strong will and intention of fighting against corruption in 2015 and beyond.
