ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Customs (FBR) celebrated International Customs Day, 2022 by holding a dignified ceremony at Customs House, Peshawar on Wednesday.
World Customs Organisation (WCO) selected the slogan ‘Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’ as this year’s theme. Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event was attended by a large number of dignitaries, ambassadors, parliamentarians, federal secretaries, senior officers of Pakistan Customs, businessmen and media representatives.
The ceremony commenced with the Guard of Honour which was presented to the chief guest by a contingent, drawn from officers and officials of Pakistan Customs, led by Collector Customs Enforcement, Peshawar. The welcome speech was delivered by Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Member Customs (Operations), (FBR (HQs), Islamabad. Welcoming the chief guest and other dignitaries, he briefly highlighted the overall performance and achievements of Pakistan Customs, during the course of previous year. He informed the audience that Pakistan Customs remains at the frontline at borders, seaports, airports, and on highways to safeguard the country from the menace of smuggling of contrabands, drugs, currency, liquor, pornography etc. “We lead our country’s efforts in combating commercial cargo smuggling to protect our industry and hence secure jobs. It is on the strength of this protection and growth in our industry, that we can dream of a Pakistan where exports become the mainstay of our GDP bringing forth precious foreign exchange to satisfy our growing import demands,” he explained. He expressed his pleasure by stating that Pakistan Customs had been able to thwart smuggling to a considerable amount with the help of other law enforcement agencies, which was a huge challenge for the country.
Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division, Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed extended his heartfelt felicitations to the Customs fraternity on International Customs Day. “This year’s theme on International Customs Day is not only in line with the initiatives that have already been undertaken by Pakistan Customs, but is what FBR constantly strives for,” he remarked. He said that Customs’ role was constantly evolving and Pakistan Customs had been up to the mark in responding to the changing nature of border management. “Pakistan Customs is serving as the guardian of Pakistan’s borders against the movement of contraband goods, as well as, a major revenue contributing agency,” he added.
Pakistan Customs is handling legitimate annual trade worth more than $80 billion. During financial year 2020-21, Pakistan Customs has shown growth of 20% in collection of Customs Duty, besides, collecting 45% of the total revenue collected by FBR under the head of all duties and taxes at import stage. During first six months of current financial year, in addition to showing growth of 45% in collection of customs duty, Pakistan Customs has collected at import stage 51% of the total revenue collected by FBR.