Comprehensive cooperation between customs bodies of Azerbaijan and Pakistan to be strengthened

On February 10-12, the delegation led by Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Member Customs Operations in the Federal Board of Revenue of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited Azerbaijan. 

On February 10, the delegation came to the Alley of Honor to pay tribute to the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev, laid a wreath at his grave. They also paid tribute to the outstanding ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva, put flowers at her grave.

Then, the delegation came to the Alley of Martyrs to pay tribute to the heroes killed while fighting for Azerbaijan’s independence and territorial integrity, laid a wreath at the Eternal Torch monument.

Afterwards, a meeting was held at the State Customs Committee.

Welcoming the guests, chairman of the State Customs Committee, customs service Colonel-General Safar Mehdiyev expressed satisfaction with the strategic cooperation and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. It was said that our states were providing mutual support and demonstrating confidence with regard to the important international and regional issues, full support of the Pakistani state and people for Azerbaijan’s just cause during the 44-day Patriotic war was a vivid example of this. 

Safar Mehdiyev said there was a great potential to develop the bilateral relations in the field of economic, as well as customs sphere, underlined the importance of increasing trade turnover between the two countries through the effective use of opportunities.

Speaking about the reforms carried out in the customs system in the recent years under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the chairman of the Committee noted that thanks to the innovations, the Azerbaijani customs had become a flexible and dynamic institution. It was said that Azerbaijan’s customs service had carried out fundamental reforms in this area, paying special attention to the use of information and communication technologies in its activities. Significant progress has been made in ensuring transparency in the customs system, improving governance, increasing the number of e-services, and combating smuggling.

Safar Mehdiyev spoke about the importance of strengthening exchange of experience and information, comprehensive cooperation between customs bodies of the two countries. 

Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Member Customs Operations in the Federal Board of Revenue of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan said he was pleased to be in Azerbaijan, thanked for warm welcome.

Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda noted that there were significant opportunities to enhance not only strategic cooperation, but also economic relations between the two brotherly countries, said the relevant bodies, including customs bodies could contribute to increasing the trade turnover.

The guests also familiarized themselves with the presentation on the modern information technologies applied in Azerbaijan’s customs service.

Then, a ceremony was held to sign the "2022/2023 Action Plan on increasing the effectiveness of cooperation and mutual assistance in the field of customs" between the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Customs Service of the Federal Board of Revenue of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 

The document was signed by Safar Mehdiyev, chairman of the State Customs Committee, and Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Member Customs Operations in the Federal Board of Revenue of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

At the end of the meeting, Safar Mehdiyev, chairman of the State Customs Committee, gave the jubilee medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan “The 30th anniversary of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1992-2022)” to Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Member Customs Operations in the Federal Board of Revenue of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, for productive cooperation with the customs bodies.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Billa Haye also attended the meeting.

As part of their trip to our country the delegation led by Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Member Customs Operations in the Federal Board of Revenue of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, also visited Baku Main Customs Office, the Academy of the State Customs Committee and Canine Training Center.

Chief of Baku Main Customs Office Parviz Kangarli briefed the delegation on the activity of the agency. It was noted that all the operations at the Main Office were carried out through the use of information technologies. E-declarations submitted by entrepreneurs are processed in a completely transparent manner within a short period of time via special software. Cargo identification and other necessary stages of customs control are carried out using the state-of-the-art technologies. It was noted that the reforms carried out in the customs system in the recent years had contributed to minimizing contact between citizens and officials, simplifying customs operations and preventing the loss of time and money. 

Then, a meeting with the Pakistani guests was held at the Academy of the State Customs Committee.

Chief of the Academy Gulu Novruzov gave information to the guests about the establishment of the Academy of the State Customs Committee, teaching process and activity in the field of international cooperation, spoke about the relations between the two countries and underlined the importance of cooperation in the area of education.

Then, a broad presentation was made on the activity of the Customs Academy. 

The guests familiarized themselves with the activity of the Academy of the State Customs Committee and observed the exams. It was noted that in addition to bachelor's and master's degree programs, the Academy also organized primary training and advanced training for customs officers, and paid special attention to conducting scientific studies in the field of customs.

At the end, the guests watched with interest the performances of the amateur choir and dance groups of students of the Academy.

As part of the visit the guests also familiarized themselves with the activity of the Canine Training Center of the State Customs Committee. It was said that 100 tracker dogs could be held, medical care provided and they could be trained at the Center. There are also conditions for breeding and keeping purebred puppies. Experienced and highly qualified specialists train canine handlers and tracker dogs. Tracker dogs are bred for detecting drugs, explosives, firearms and ammunition, protecting all types of facilities. It was noted that the Center housed a veterinary clinic equipped with modern equipment, and the dogs trained there had won in various international competitions.