Since 1953, the International Customs Day is celebrated on 26th January to recognize and value the role of Customs in border security, revenue collection and trade facilitation through regulation of cargo movement across international borders. Every year, the WCO selects a theme and a slogan for the Customs Day. This year's theme has been dedicated to swift and smooth movement of cross-border movement of goods, people and means of transport, with the slogan "SMART borders for seamless Trade, Travel and Transport".
International trade is one of the most important engines of economic growth and development for the nations across the world. Customs being the lead agency amongst the many at the border, is entrusted with task of facilitating and regulating the flow of trade and their means of transport.
In many countries, Customs also perform the functions of immigration. Moreover, Customs mandate in addition to collection of duties and taxes on imports also include enforcement of laws and regulations to protect the society from the influx of dangerous and hazardous goods. However, enforcement of laws and procedures may not hinder the smooth flow of genuine trade, it is necessary that the border procedures are simplified, standardized and harmonized. It is in this backdrop that World Customs Organization has chosen the theme of "SMART borders seamless Trade, Travel and Transport" for this year's International Customs Day.
It gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction to inform that Pakistan Customs has in recent past achieved many a milestone as far as setting up the infrastructure of "SMART" borders in Pakistan. Customs is one of the most forward-looking public-sector organization in Pakistan with a sophisticated and state of the art automated cargo clearance procedure.
As a signatory to the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods (TIR Convention, 1975), Pakistan Customs has implemented a host of reform measures to ensure smooth and hassle-free movement of cargo albeit with a sophisticated risk management system to target risky shipments.
Setting up of a national single window (NSW) is one such initiative being implemented by Pakistan Customs where all the trade regulatory bodies, ports and the traders shall be connected to a single electronic portal for submission of documents and fulfilling regulatory requirements. The implementation of NSW provision is expected to reduce costs in terms of money and time to trade tremendously, thereby making Pakistan competitive in international markets.
Similarly, the Customs Convention on International Transportation of Goods under the cover of TIR Carnets, commonly known as TIR Convention, 1975 is another important landmark towards creation of SMART borders for hassle free movement of goods across international borders.
The objectives of the TIR Convention is to facilitate international transit of goods and transport units/vehicles through a simplified and harmonized customs procedure under the cover of an internationally acceptable guarantee.
In this connection, Pakistan Customs has already issued rules and started the pilot project at its land border customs stations of Torkham and Taftan. With the full implementation of TIR Convention, Pakistan owing to its strategic location is bound to be transformed into a regional hub of international transit and trade.
In the end, I would like to congratulate all my customs colleagues and our friends and partners from the trade and industry on the auspicious occasion of International Customs Day. At the same time, I would urge my fellow officers to make further endevours for making Pakistan one of the most efficient customs administrations in the World.