ISLAMABAD: On special directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Customs is set to introduce the country’s first national single window (NSW) system to manage the external trade.
Sources said that the Customs authorities have already completed their homework to take over the regulation of external trade. The prime minister issued the directive to take away the power of managing trade from the Ministry of Commerce over its poor performance and following informal consultation with internal and external experts, they said.
A large number of importers and exporters have been complaining about involvement of numerous government entities in the clearing procedure.
The PM’s Secretariat directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman to move a summary with specific proposals on timelines, stakeholders’ contact points and National Steering Committee for establishment of national single window.
Pakistan has already ratified the trade facilitation agreement with the World Trade Organisation and the national single window is first step in that direction.
The single window has become a core instrument to facilitate trade, simplify procedures and implement electronic business. Around 50 countries have implemented the national single window system.
