Together with Custom community of the World, Pakistan Customs is also celebrating International Customs Day on 26th January, 2020. I extend my warm felicitations to all officers and officials of Customs on this special day. The slogan of the day this year is"Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet". The theme highlights the contribution and efforts of Customs organization in bringing sustainability and prosperity to the lives of its people.

Border controls have always played a pivotal role in Pakistan customs. However, with changing times it has been realized that excessive and time-consuming checks at the point of clearance can be counterproductive. By application of a post-clearance, risk-based approach, Pakistan Customs would be able to target its resources more effectively and work in partnership with the business community to improve compliance levels and facilitate trade.

However, launching a full-fledged audit system in a country with high volumes of informal trade is not an easy job. It requires high level of commitment and dedication at all levels besides adequate human, logistic, IT and financial resources. Nevertheless, in line with WCO guidelines and best international customs practices, Directorate General of PCA, Karachi is determined to align its practices along modern custom techniques.

It is enhancing its professional and operational competencies through the provision of practical tools and techniques to effectively conduct system based audits and in this regard efforts are underway to develop an effective risk based management system for PCA.

Once PCA is fully operational, compliant trade will be facilitated at the point of Customs clearance whereas border controls will be considerably reduced. It would enable Customs to gain better information and understanding of traders' business and risk levels,customs administrations' resources will be more effectively deployed and the concept of voluntary compliance and self-assessment will translate into practice.

I am confident that our government and officers would continue to make all possible efforts to adopt the latest technology and best international custom practices within the shortest possible time. This in turn will enhance performance and provide an enabling institutional structure to promote and sustain rapid expansion in Pakistan's international trade and commerce leading to sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet.