The World Customs Organization (WCO), with financial support from the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF-China), successfully conducted a workshop on the WCO Data Model in Karachi, Pakistan, from 19 to 23 August 2024. The Workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of Pakistan Customs, the Pakistan Single Window (PSW), and the Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) system in aligning their national cross border datasets with the WCO Data Model (WCO DM), thereby promoting interoperability of digital systems and international trade efficiency. WCO Accredited Experts from Germany and Indonesia facilitated the Workshop.
Throughout the Workshop, participants engaged in comprehensive sessions that covered the strategic benefits of digitalization and standardization, the core components of the WCO Data Model, and practical guidance on implementing the WCO DM within existing technological frameworks. The Workshop provided an in-depth understanding of the WCO DM’s libraries, Information Packages, and main class structures, as well as the application WCO DM App to facilitate the mapping process.
Key sessions included mapping exercises for PSW's and WeBOC’s datasets of Pakistan’s five crucial data exchanges (e.g., the exchange of party and export declaration information with other Customs Agencies, as well as the exchange of information with national Cross Border Regulatory Agencies), ensuring their alignment with the WCO DM by drafting national subsets of the WCO DM, called “My Information Packages (MyIPs)”. The Workshop featured interactive discussions and practical exercises that allowed participants to apply their learning in real-time scenarios. These activities were crucial in preparing PSW to undertake the next steps in the adoption of the WCO DM.
The Workshop concluded with a summary of the key learnings and a commitment from all parties to continue working together to implement the WCO DM across PSW and WeBOC systems. In closing remarks, the Chief Domain Officer of PSW, Naveed Abbas Memon, expressed gratitude to the WCO experts for their valuable support and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to aligning its data exchange with international standards.
This successful event underscores the WCO's ongoing efforts to support its Members in modernizing their Customs operations through the adoption of international standards, ultimately contributing to more efficient and streamlined global trade.