Top Saudi government officials arrive in Pakistan for key meetings with FBR and Custom Authorities

5 Sep, 2019

ISLAMABAD - Top Saudi government officials arrive in Pakistan for key meetings with FBR and Custom Authorities in order to increase bilateral relations at government levels.

A five-member delegation of Saudi Customs Authority visited the Federal Board of Revenue to discuss various matters of mutual interest and assistance. The Saudi delegation was headed by Mr. Muhammad AlNuaim, Deputy Governor of Security Affairs.

The Pakistani side was headed by Mr. Shabbar Raza Zaidi, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue. Mr. Muhammad Javed Ghani, Member (Customs-Policy), Mr. Jawwad Uwais Agha (Member-Operations) and other senior officers of Pakistan customs also participated in the meeting.

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Both sides shared their experiences in the law enforcement domain and explored avenues of future cooperation in the following areas:

1. Exchange of Information, on a real-time basis, between both countries regarding values of goods originating from both countries. 2. Exchange of intelligence based information to effectively control the illicit flow of currency. 3. Development of authorized economic cooperation program between both countries. 4. Profiling of advance passenger information. 5. Cooperation between Saudi Customs and Pakistani Customs in order to arrest the senders and recipients of drugs. 6. Exchange of post-seizure and arrest investigations. 7. Designation of contact officers for mutual cooperation. 8. Capacity building for automation/harmonization of customs procedures.

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It was underscored that the menace of narcotics, smuggling, and under-invoicing/over-invoicing are the primary sources of illicit financial flows (IFFs) which is a global phenomenon. It was mutually agreed that no country can cope with these cross border challenges without ensuring international cooperation.

Therefore, both countries need to support each other through international forums as well as Customs to Customs Cooperation under Mutual Assistance Agreements.