President, (2010-2011) Karachi Customs Agents Association

It is a matter of great pleasure for me to extend warm felicitations to the Federal Board of Revenue and Pakistan Customs on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of International Customs Day on 26th January 2011. Pakistan joins World Customs Organisation members in celebrating this important landmark as this day affords us an opportunity to reaffirm WCO's mission of enhancing effectiveness and efficiency of Customs Administration.
Pakistan Customs has always remained in the forefront of liberalisation and rationalisation of the trade regime and procedures in supporting Government's Initiatives to facilitate and enhance trade with international partners. The ongoing restructuring of tax administration and automation of Customs procedures, in line with international best practices, will go a long way in integrating Pakistan's economy with the global economy and harnessing fruits of globalisation.
The International Customs Day recognises that efforts of the peoples working in Customs Administration world-wide. Customs Administrations have always has to meet the challenges of rapid, smooth & secure processing of goods clearance operation and this responsibility of Customs is equally shared of goods clearance operation and this responsibility of Customs is equally shared by the Customs Agents. More than ever before, one of the key goal of customs agents is to reconcile the facilitation and control of trade within the legal boundaries and parameters as defined by the Pakistan Customs in their Licensing Rules for Customs agents.
In such an environment, the task of customs agents is highly important in helping the government to achieve an appropriate balance between trade facilitation and regulatory control. They have to provide this service with high professional standards and ethical behaviour vis-à-vis their customers and customs.
On this occasion, I would also like to thank all customs staff who do valuable work and perform an important public service. No doubt, they play a key role in the economic and social well being of the country. Their remarkable accomplishments need to be commended and elaborated.