LAHORE: Pakistan Customs is doing all-out efforts to digitalize and atomize its services to reduce human interference in order to ensure goods’ clearance without any discrimination and unfairness.
This was sated by Chief Collector of Customs Rozi Khan Burki while addressing the flag hoisting ceremony on the occasion of International Customs Day at the Customs House here on Tuesday.
Shedding light on this year’s World Customs Orgnization theme, “Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement.,” the chief collector said that Pakistan Customs has shifted to digital WeBOC system from One Customs making the customs procedures the simplest.
He said that the central region has successfully implement WeBOC system at the Land Freight Unit Wagha and the same model will be implement at the Torkham and Chaman boarders in the near future.
He said that WeBOC system has been ensured at the posts of the country; however, Land Freight Units managements of the customs are also gradually putting into practice the WeBOC system.
On the occasion, Collector of Customs Lahore Preventive Mukarram Jah Ansari said Preventive collectorate has achieved a number of millstones in digitalization of customs process in Lahore.
He said that years back in 2013, he was assigned to implement WeBOC at the Air Freight Unit Allama Iqbal International Airport, initially there was a hue and cry on the part of importer and exporter and trade bodies that that One Customs be brought back.
However, WeBOC has been successfully implemented and 80 percent of the GDs are being cleared through WeBOC while at land boarder stations the Lahore Preventive has successfully launched WeBOC, the collector said, adding, “there was also the same perception that the WeBOC will not be a success at the Wagha border and stakeholders will have to face hardship. However, our officers made it a success at the land border station Wagah,” he added.
He said that a sea change has taken place and Pakistan Customs is focused on digital customs because this is the only way improvement and effectiveness can be brought about.
Collector of Customs Imtiaz Ahmed Waraich said that it is one big reality that the blue planet was made by nature without any boarder and demarcation but the humankind has been doing for quite a long time.
However, technology and digitalization are melting down the demarcation and line to give the planet it real shape once again, he said, adding that the Customs organization worldwide is contributing to bring back the planet in its original form with the help of digitalization.
“Pakistan‘s WeBOC system is world class which is not only helping the country facilitate the trade and commerce digitally and interlink with the world,” Imtiaz said.
Collector of Customs Appraisement Muhammad Sadiq said that digitalization of customs process has started in year 1998 and with the due corporation of trading community, customs official and clearing agents more improvement are being brought about to facilitate trade and industry.
Collector of customs Faislabad Dr Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhary said that customs services are the important ingredients of a nation’s profile and to remain attractive destination for trade the customs agencies need to digitalize there services and provide more engaging user experiences thus making it easier to transact business for trading community, boarder agencies and customs staff. Office of all collectorates and directorate were present on the occasion.
The chief guest distributed certificates among officials for performing meritorious performance. Chief collector also inaugurated the Resource Center at Customs House Lahore.
