Centenary of Customs 1879-1979 December 10, 1979

1978 marked the completion of a hundred years of service by the Cus-toms Department as guardians of the economic and fiscal frontiers of the areas which now constitute Pakistan. Although the concept of Custom dawned with the era when man learnt the secret of international trade, the history of Customs in the sub-continent can be traced to the Mirs and the subsequent British Administration. The year 1878 marked a focal point in Customs administration, for it was in this year that laws were consolidated in the Sea Customs Act, 1878 At the time, Customs revenue collection was mere 3 lac rupees. a figure which is dwarfed by the collection of about rupees 1200 crore this year 60 % of the federal revenue budget.
Independence necessitated a new set of priorities and requisites which led to the repeal of the Sea Customs Act 1878 and to the birth of the Custom Act of 1969,The Custom Department apart from collection of duties on import and export, facilitates international passenger traffic into and out of Pakistan, contributes to industrial production and export promotion through incentives. Its watchword is efficiency, courtesy and integrity.
Today, as may be seen from the map, there are over 24 Custom Establishments allover the country, protecting the nations economic and fiscal frontiers from the beaches of Gwadar and Karachi, to the planes of Lahore and the rugged mountains of the Khyber.
To commemorate one hundred years of Customs Services Pakistan Post Office is issuing a postage stamp of Re. 1/- denomination on 10-12-1979.