QUETTA: Collectorate of Customs Preventive Collector Dr. Iftakhar Ahmad has said that Pakistan Customs along with International Customs fraternity celebrated International Customs Day (ICD) on 26 January 2020 with the slogan “Customs fostering sustainability for people, prosperity and the planet”.
Talking with Customs Today during an exclusive interview on the subject of ICD, he said that the commemorations for the Day should highlight the role and contributions of Pakistan Customs for ensuring sustainable future for its people, making right choices for inclusive economic growth and prosperity, and enforcing International conventions and obligations to save the planet.
Answering to a query he said that being the guardians of economic frontiers, Pakistan Customs has always been on the vanguard to modernize itself and keep pace with the global changes and the trends. It has successfully demonstrated its capability by implementing indigenously designed automation based trade facilitation initiatives like Web Based One Customs (WeBOC) which provides paperless processing for 90 percent of cross border trade.
Pakistan Customs has also electronically linked itself with 14 different regulatory authorities in the country and all major commercial banks under intra (Integration of Regulatory Authorities) program. The enhanced integration of various agencies in the WeBOC system facilitated the joint physical inspections of the cargos at the ports. These initiatives played a vital role for elevating Pakistan 28 places and the country rose to a rank of 108 in the global ease of Doing Business rankings this year from 136 the previous year.
He told that recognizing the critical role of free flow of the legitimate goods-in-trade in the prosperity and wellbeing of the people, the Pakistan Customs has always centered its focus to equip itself with the modern tools, gadgetries and techniques for timely interception of unsafe, unhealthy, counterfeit and environmentally hazardous goods to protect the society and the planet for their harmful effects. Pakistan Customs has developed a robust Risk Management System (RMS) to intercept the across border illegal / concealed movement of dangerous goods through formal and informal routes. In collaboration with UN Environment, Pakistan Customs got its officers trained in identification and detection of across the border movement of banned Ozone Depleting substances.
He notified that the Pakistan Customs also made a giant leap in the year 2017-18 by framing ‘Rules’ to control illegal trade of fake, counterfeit and pirated products across the borders. The Directorate General Intellectual Property Right Enforcement being cognizant of the adverse impacts of pirated / counterfeit products on human health, environment and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) constituted special teams to interdict IPR violating goods. In the ongoing financial year, the Directorate General has seized IPR violating goods of valuing Rs 146 million in 88 cases.
Asia Europe Meeting Association (ASEM) and European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) also launched the Joint Customs Operation (JCO) Hygeia.
On joining JCO Hygeia in March 2019, nationwide alerts were issued across the country focusing on interdiction of IPR violating Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs). Out of 38 countries, Pakistan’s performance was at the top with 12 seizures/forfeitures. The seized goods included counterfeit Sensodyne toothpaste, Perfumes, Insecticides, Fairness & Analgesic creams, Shoe Polishes and Battery Cells etc. These efforts were highly acknowledge by MNCs i.e Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, GSK, Toshiba, Johnsons and P&G to name but few the Collector Preventive highlighted.
IPR’s vigilance at ports for finished goods and packaging materials is instrumental for us in curbing counterfeits, Our revenue growth during the year 2017-18 by 16% is largely due to Customs border enforcement measures, talking about GSK he quoted “I would appreciate your department’s efforts in curtailing counterfeit imports in Pakistan. We are highly impressed by the commitment show-cased at every level of interaction with Customs”. He added that Customs is the first line of defense against counterfeit imports. We have constantly received great support from IPR (South) in seizing thousands of counterfeit shampoo bottles.
The enforcement steps of Pakistan Customs was also applauded by Kristiane Backer, author of publication “From MTV to Mecca” on impounding fake copies of the said publication on her complaint, the fake books were printed in UK and exported to Pakistan, this case is first of its kind which has earned a great honor for Pakistan.
In order to protect its people from harmful effects of narcotics and psychotropic substances, unhealthy and unsafe edible products the Pakistan Customs anti-smuggling outfits have always been on the forefront and seized huge quantities thereof through life threatening operations. In the CFY the contribution in these areas are as under.
He said that the MCC Quetta seized narcotics & psychotropic substances (charas, opium, heroin, ice drug etc) 2261 kilogram worth Rs 4271 million, betel nuts 1721 MT worth Rs1400 million, gutka 1721 MT worth Rs352 million, seized foreign origin cigarettes 37940 packets worth Rs285 million
The Collector said that the Pakistan Customs has always accorded its foremost duty to protect local industry, an engine of employment generation and economic growth, from harmful effects of across the border informal trade. In the ongoing financial year, the Customs seized smuggled goods of valuing Rs12620 million which includes non-duty paid vehicles, cloth, and POL products etc.
