LAHORE: The World Customs Organization (WCO) provides an ideal forum for customs administrations and other stakeholders to hold in-depth discussions, exchange experiences, and share best practices on a range of international Customs and trade issues.
These views were expressed by Collector of Customs Preventive Zulfiqar Younas while addressing customs officers and staff on the occasion of World Customs Day.
He said that it was the day to show resolve that the international customs family spreading over 180 countries was vibrant, cohesive and had shared values to contribute to the growth and development of the world.
He added that as the global centre of excellence in customs matters and the voice of the international customs community, the WCO provides an ideal forum for customs administrations and their stakeholders to hold in-depth discussions, exchange experiences, and share best practices on a range of international customs and trade issues.
It thus aims to create uniformity in application of customs laws rules & regulation around the globe in order to facilitate the international trade, he stated.
“We are privileged to have with us Dr. Umar Saif Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board whose PITB helped us in developing the software for anti-smuggling Operations and it is expected enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our anti-smuggling wing”.
He also informed that this year for the first time we organized a poster competition on role of Pakistan Customs on economic development of Pakistan. Being a difficult topic we were quite nervous about the response from the artist community.
“Al Hamdolillah the response was outstanding and we received around a hundred posters which were from all parts of Pakistan,” he added.
He also highlight Customs Department has always endeavored to promote sports and made outstanding contributions in the field of hockey and cricket. It has produced great hockey players like Samiullah, Kaleemullah, Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin, Farhat Khan and many others.
Similarly Customs superstars like Jalaluddin, Saleem Yousaf, Haris Khan were highlights of Pakistan cricket, he said adding that in October last year we organized first ever Pakistan Customs Golf Cup at Lahore Gymkhana which was a great success.
He stated that by organizing Golf Tournament, Pakistan Customs made an effort to promote other sports as well since golf has attained significance by its inclusion in the recently concluded RIO Olympic Games in Brazil. Besides sports, the Customs Department has also initiated a number of projects which include developing a web portal to facilitate business community and passengers.
Providing free medical advice and medicines to deserving Class IV and lower staff, providing combat and other trainings to our human resource to enhance effectiveness of our human capital and many more similar initiatives, he informed, concluding all these initiatives have a very positive impact on our trade facilitation efforts as well as on collection of government revenue.
