Each year on 26th January every Customs Administration around the world celebrates International Customs Day. The World Customs Organisation sets a theme which serves as priority mission objective for all its member countries for the year ahead. The International Customs day on 26th January 2012 is focusing on trade facilitation, co-ordination, enforcement & drug control and exchange of import & export information.
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 the efforts of people working in Customs Administration world-wide. Customs Administrations always have to meet the challenges of rapid, smooth & secure processing 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 provide this service with high professional standards and ethical behaviour vis-à-vis their customers and Customs.
The Karachi Customs Agents Association is especially grateful to Pakistan Customs in general and WCO in particular for keeping us on their top agenda of training and learning. I wish to convey my best wishes to the Pakistan Customs on the International Customs Day.