International Customs Day was observed by Customs and Faisalabad Dry Port Trust jointly here on Saturday. During the ceremony both Pakistan and custom flags were hoisted at the dry port.
Addressing the participants of the event, Collector Customs, Mehboob Saqib exhorted the Customs Staff to be more vigilant and careful, while checking the consignments and take appropriate Anti-Drug Smuggling measures.
The emerging scenario calls for vigilance, integrated efforts, co-operation and the optimum use of technology to break the chains and various supply and transit channels of illicit trade.
He added that Pakistan Customs reiterates its commitment to combat all sorts of challenges to promote the national interest. He said that Pakistan Customs rightly takes pride in celebrating International Customs Day and it is justified on the basis that we have always endeavoured to keep ourselves abreast with latest developments and trends adopted by the most progressive and modern customs establishments of the world.
Saqib said that keeping in view the geopolitical situation vis-à-vis the globalisation, Pakistan Customs is facing the great challenges in two main areas; safe Trading Environment and Drug Interdiction, he added. Collector Customs said that the concerns of the developed world with regard to security of cargo and trade have attained prime eminence.
To cope with the situation and to respond to the trading partners' concerns, hi-tech instruments have been installed at various ports. This has triggered a healthy competition within various ports/terminals for business promotion and appropriate response to challenges, he added.
Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad, Chairman Faisalabad Dry Port Trust, said that the drug interdiction is one of the core responsibility of the Pakistan Customs for which all possible preventive measures are traditionally employed to ensure the sanctity or the genuine commercial cargo is not breached in any manner. He lauded the efforts of Faisalabad Customs for effectively controlling the drug trafficking.
Mian Zahid Aslam, former Chairman, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, Vice Chairman, Faisalabad Dry Port Trust, Pervaiz Sultan Rana, Collector Sales Tax, Shuja ud Din, Additional Collector Sales Tax, Amer Rashid Sheikh, Additional Collector Customs, Saeed Asad, Deputy Collector (Head Quarters), Muhammad Asif Hargan, Deputy Collector Customs Intelligence and other officers also addressed.