Pakistan has achieved a significant milestone by establishing electronic connectivity between its Pakistan single window system and China, fostering efficient cross-border trade by facilitating the exchange of trade data.
Aftab Haider, the CEO of Pakistan Single Window (PSW), expressed the organization’s commitment to integrating international exports and developing practical applications for data exchange with China. The PSW actively supports the government and Pakistan Customs in promoting electronic data exchange with partner countries, in alignment with bilateral agreements on international transit and trade. Haider has set an ambitious target of positioning PSW among the top ten single window systems worldwide within the next three years.
Pakistan made a commitment to establish a Single Window under the Trade Facilitation Agreement in 2017. The initial phase of implementation commenced in June 2022 with the objective of digitizing cross-border trade procedures. PSW leverages the expertise of the private sector to drive this groundbreaking reform initiative.
In addition to customs, 76 other departments are involved in various aspects of cross-border trade. The primary goal of PSW is to automate all these departments through the electronic single window, thereby reducing the time and cost associated with cross-border trade. Following the launch of Pakistan’s Single Window system last year, five departments have been integrated with customs, and the system continues to expand with new services, features, and modules. Most recently, the integration of the Marine Fisheries Department has facilitated fish and fish product exports.
PSW also collaborates with private sector service providers, integrating pre-shipment inspection companies, laboratories, and fumigation companies into the system to facilitate trade across various sectors. The organization aims to minimize costs and time, enhance transparency, and provide comprehensive data visibility in trade regulations. Furthermore, PSW emphasizes data processing capabilities and seeks partnerships with renowned companies to develop robust business intelligence and data warehousing capabilities, enabling effective policymaking and trade facilitation.
Moreover, PSW shares data with relevant departments to expedite the clearance process. In July, the organization plans to launch the Port Community System, which will connect all public and private sector stakeholders in the port community through a unified electronic platform. This system will streamline business-to-government and business-to-business processes, providing exporters with vessel schedules and traffic visibility at ports, digitalizing payments, and issuing electronic delivery orders to save time and costs for traders.
The implementation of the single window system is projected to save Pakistan $430 million, as estimated by the World Bank.
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