KARACHI, Jan 26: The international customs day was observed by the customs department by organizing different programmes and seminars on Monday at the Directorate Training Karachi and the Custom House Gaddani.

Speaking at a seminar on "The role of Pakistan customs in the protection of society", the additional collector customs, Zulfiqar Malick, said the illegal movement of weapons of mass destruction and organized cross-border crimes constituted a major threat to the international community.

He added that no region of the world was safe from the threat of terrorism. He said the challenge was to strike a balance between facilitating legitimate international cargo movement and dealing effectively with the cargo which could pose a threat to national security.

Mr Malik said security had always been a factor in international trade and a number of mechanisms already existed to address the issue. However, both the nature of the threat and, more importantly, the perception of the threat had changed dramatically since 9/11, he said.

"Effectively, the focus has shifted from relatively minor threats to a situation where terrorists might use the trade mechanisms and processes as weapons against society."

The additional collector said the scale and gravity of recent acts of terrorism had led the international customs community to reaffirm its mission to protect society and international trade.

He said it had become imperative that international instruments, such as the Revised Kyoto Convention of the WCO, the Unique Consignment Reference, the United Nations Layout Key for Trade Documents, United Nation's Trade Data Elements Directory, and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code of the International Maritime Organization were followed.

With reference to checks on import of hazardous goods, the additional collector cited one example of import of Benzedine which causes cancer. He said: "The customs checks all dyes which are used in the textile industry to make sure cancer causing dyes and chemicals are not imported."

He recalled that sick and diseased goats were not allowed to be imported into Saudi Arabia by their customs, adding that the Pakistani customs did not allow that either.

Earlier, the director of training, Wahid Khursheed Kunwar, also addressed the seminar and spoke about globalization and the custom's changing role, the relationship of goods and culture, the flora and fauna in respect of the environment, international conventions on promotion of IT, the Bara Market phenomenon, etc.

Later, an exhibition of photos and customs paraphernalia opened at the Customs House while awards were distributed among children who had won the speech and painting competitions held at the Customs Public School on Jan 23.

The international day was also observed at the Customs House Gaddani. Speaking on the occasion, the additional collector at Gaddani, Shahenshah Hasnain, assured the ship breakers that they would not encounter any difficulties in future. The Lasbella district Nazim, Jam Kamal Khan, the additional collector sales tax, Hub, and the district coordination officer also attended the ceremony.