KARACHI - The world economy has grown very fast in recent decades. The regional borders are under great pressure because of the ever increasing interdependence of states as mutual trade is touching unprecedented heights. The trade is thus the most solid connect among continents, regions and states and the world is fast coming together on this meeting point.
The Customs administration has a crucial role to play in all this process as goods are coming in and moving out of the countries. The movement of goods, in and out, in every state is manned by its Customs Administration saddled with most important responsibility of monitoring and regulating the huge quantum of trade roping in the political entities together. It is this reason that World Customs Organization (WCO) has declared every year 26th January to be “International Customs Day”. This year the theme selected by WCO is on “Customs Connect & Borders Divide.
In order to highlight the theme for this year in Pakistan, the Directorate General of Training & Research (Customs) helped organise a workshop by the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association.  The workshop held on 21st January heavily attended by the members of PIFFA packing the auditorium to full capacity. The workshop was opened by Dr Jawwad Uwais Agha Director of Customs Training & Research Facility.
He stressed on the importance of Customs Department being supervisor of the Gateway for Trade between the bordering and other states. He apprised audience about the automation achieved over the years in Customs Department and highlighted the importance of Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association being responsible for trans-movement of the goods. The resource persons spoke on the Automation in Customs, Introduction and Scheme of Customs Tariff, Drug Enforcement PACCS & WeBOC.
Asim Saeed Khan Chairman PIFFA and Moin Ahmed Malik President PIFFA Institute thanked the Customs Department for helping organise the event. It was concluded by the Chief Collector of Customs South Amir Khan Marwat who was Chief Guest on the occasion. Amir Khan appreciated the huge attendance and interest generated by the workshop and delivery of crucial knowledge to PIFFA members as the Customs department and PIFFA were “hand in hand” in connecting the borders together.