Pakistan has successfully rolled out the first phase of the
Pakistan Single Window (PSW) for trade and transportation integrating Pakistan
Customs, Department of Plant Protection, Animal Quarantine Department, Federal Seed
Certification & Registration Department, Pakistan Standards & Quality Control
Authority, and the Export Development Fund.

In addition, 29 commercial banks are already integrated with the PSW platform for the
exchange of cross-border trade-related financial information in real-time.

The PSW system began rolling out in July 2021 and currently has more than 52,000
registered users. Services currently offered by the system include electronic customs
registration, online processing, and issuance of import permits, phyto-sanitary
certificates, release orders and other documents pertaining to the above-mentioned
government agencies, and digital payments.

Under a major reform initiated in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, digital
integration with commercial banks replaced electronic Form ’E’ and Form ‘I’ previously
required for each trade transaction.

In March 2022 PSW also launched its Trade Information Portal providing a single access
point for all information related to imports, exports, and transit also in compliance with
Article 1.2 of the TFA. Implementation of the PSW system is supervised by the PSW
Governing Council chaired by the Minister of Finance and comprising of the federal
secretaries from the key ministries regulating cross-border trade as well as
representatives of the private sector.

“Our government is committed to reducing the time and cost of doing business and
considers the Pakistan Single Window a significant initiative for digitalizing government
processes and regulations pertaining to international trade which will not help reduce
the compliance costs for traders but will also provide increased transparency and
predictability in cross border trade”, said the Minister of Finance and Revenues Miftah
Ismail in a statement issued from his office.

He added, “I am confident that PSW initiative will help our exporters in reducing their
compliance costs and thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Pakistan’s exports.”

The Finance Minister congratulated the Pakistan Single Window team on achieving yet
another of Pakistan’s international commitments under the WTO TFA in time and said
that this system will enhance Pakistan’s export competitiveness and integration with the
international supply chain.”

The PSW initiative was launched in 2017 with Pakistan Customs as the designated lead
agency. The system is being developed and rolled out in phases by the PSW Company
which is the notified ‘Operating entity’ for the PSW system under the provisions of the
Pakistan Single Window Act, 2021.

“We are proud to have accomplished this significant milestone on the PSW journey in
time and wish to commend and congratulate each and every member of the PSW team
including those from the participating departments who have contributed to make this
happen” stated Syed Aftab Haider, the Chief Executive Officer of the PSW Company.

“On behalf of my team I would also like to acknowledge and appreciate the leadership
role provided by Pakistan Customs in conceiving and developing the PSW initiative and
would like to express my thanks to the State Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of National Food
Security & Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, our development partners, and
the various trade bodies and associations who embraced the single window concept and
provided us crucial support for smooth execution”, he added.

Credit :
Independent News Pakistan-INP