Pakistan has been elected to the World Customs Organization (WCO) Policy Commission for 2026 to 2028, marking its first membership in the body after 70 years.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) confirmed that Pakistan Customs secured the seat following a competitive election held at the Regional Head of Customs Authorities meeting in Hong Kong.
Pakistan faced strong competition at the RHCA session in Hong Kong, where member nations from the Asia-Pacific region cast votes for the available commission seats.
Syed Asad Raza Rizvi led Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement at the meeting, and his efforts were widely credited as a decisive factor in securing the historic result.
Pakistan and Hong Kong Customs also signed a bilateral agreement during the session, further strengthening institutional ties between the two customs administrations.
Pakistan Single Window model received strong backing from Asia-Pacific member nations, whose support played a central role in Pakistan’s successful bid for the commission.
Representatives of Pakistan Single Window delivered a presentation at the Hong Kong meeting, which drew positive responses from delegations across the Asia-Pacific region.
FBR confirmed that Pakistan’s broader digital reform programme within its customs infrastructure was formally recognised by the World Customs Organization at the session.
The WCO Policy Commission is a principal decision-making body that shapes international customs policy and operational standards across its 185 member economies worldwide.
Pakistan’s election grants it a formal voice in global customs policy discussions, significantly raising its standing within the international customs governance structure.
Officials said the membership is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s influence over trade facilitation standards and cross-border regulatory frameworks across the Asia-Pacific region.
