Karachi, The International Customs Day, an annual event held on January 26 to recognize the global contributions of customs administrations, was celebrated at the Old Custom House building in Karachi this year. Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. The event saw participation from diplomats, civil servants, senior military and civil armed forces officers, business professionals, and media representatives.
According to Federal Board of Revenue, the ceremony began with a Guard of Honor presented to Dr. Akhtar by a contingent of Preventive officers and sepoys from the Collectorate. In her address, Dr. Akhtar urged all stakeholders to collaborate for securing the international trade supply chain. She expressed confidence in the Federal Board of Revenue’s ability to collect revenue exceeding 9.4 trillion Rupees in the current financial year. Dr. Akhtar mentioned the ongoing reform process within the FBR and stressed the critical role of Customs in cross-border trade, highlighting the significance of the Single Window activity in Customs operations.
Dr. Fareed Iqbal Qureshi, Member Customs Operations, emphasized the need for new initiatives to adapt to the evolving role of Pakistan Customs in safeguarding economic frontiers and facilitating legitimate trade. The Collector of Customs Enforcement Karachi, in his welcome note, pointed out the importance of inter-agency cooperation to overcome challenges faced by Customs in both Appraisement and Enforcement.
The Finance Minister also distributed certificates of merit from the World Customs Organization (WCO) to officers for their exceptional service. In alignment with this year’s theme, Pakistan Customs acknowledged the cooperation of other entities and law enforcement agencies in achieving its objectives.
The World Customs Organization dedicated the year 2024 to the theme “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose,” emphasizing the necessity of collaboration for effective customs service delivery.