Brussels, (Unib Rashid) — Pakistan has been elected to the Policy Commission of the World Customs Organization (WCO) for the first time since 1955. Pakistan secured this major achievement from the Asia-Pacific region after a long gap for the 32-member commission.

It is pertinent to mention that the World Customs Organization was established on January 26, 1953, to regulate and coordinate customs matters worldwide. The organization currently comprises 187 member countries. Among the various bodies of the WCO, the Policy Commission is considered its most important decision-making forum.

Interestingly, after the 17 founding members of the organization, Pakistan became its 18th member. Pakistan was elected to the WCO Policy Commission for the 2026–2028 term during the WCO Regional Heads of Customs meeting held in Hong Kong.

This marks the first-ever representation of Pakistan Customs in the WCO Policy Commission in nearly 70 years of Pakistan’s membership in the organization since 1955.

The headquarters of the World Customs Organization is located in the European capital, Brussels, where Pakistan is represented by Syed Asad Raza Rizvi. Under his leadership, Pakistan had been making continuous efforts for the past two years to secure this position. However, after the appointment of Pakistan’s Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg, Rahim Hayat Qureshi, Pakistan intensified its diplomatic lobbying efforts.

As a result, Pakistan has secured this high-level representation in an important international organization after a long period.