Islamabad: Pakistan has achieved a significant milestone by being elected to the World Customs Organization (WCO) Policy Commission for the term 2026-2028. This victory was secured during the Regional Heads of Customs Administrations (RHCA) Meeting for the Asia Pacific region, which took place in Hong Kong from May 18-20, 2026. The nomination is set to be formally confirmed at the WCO Council Session in June 2026.
According to Press Information Department, this marks the first time that Pakistan Customs will be represented on the WCO Policy Commission since joining the organization in 1955. The WCO Policy Commission serves as the principal forum for strategic policy direction, focusing on areas such as customs modernization and governance reforms. Pakistan’s successful election followed a competitive race involving six candidates vying for five seats from the Asia Pacific region.
Pakistan’s candidacy was bolstered by its longstanding absence from major WCO governance structures and its recent achievements in customs modernization, particularly through initiatives like the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and digital customs reforms. The campaign was spearheaded by Syed Asad Raza Rizvi, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the WCO, and involved nearly two years of strategic outreach and diplomatic engagement across the region.
The RHCA Meeting also highlighted Pakistan’s PSW initiative, with representatives Naveed Abbas Memon and Salman Chaudhry delivering a well-received presentation on Pakistan’s digital integration architecture. On the sidelines of the conference, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hong Kong Customs to enhance regional cooperation in digital trade facilitation.
These accomplishments were made possible through the coordinated efforts of Pakistan Customs’ Permanent Mission to the WCO in Brussels and the International Customs Wing of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), led by Irfan Javed. The election is expected to enhance Pakistan’s international standing and facilitate future engagements in global customs policy.