ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed authorities to take effective measures to reduce delays in trade, lower business costs and boost exports, saying the government was committed to making Pakistan a more effective part of global supply chains.
Chairing the first meeting of the Trade Facilitation Board, Shehbaz said facilitating trade and promoting business activity were among the government’s top priorities.
He directed the relevant authorities to eliminate unnecessary procedures and rules that hinder trade and improve coordination among government agencies involved in the clearance of goods.
“Trade facilitation is aimed at removing procedural barriers related to trade,” the prime minister said, according to an official statement.
Shehbaz directed all relevant agencies operating at major ports to provide facilities to the business community at a single location.
He also called for improvements in the system of joint inspections and profiling by government agencies to reduce unnecessary delays in the clearance of goods.
The prime minister ordered a comprehensive audit of all non-tariff measures to identify and remove unnecessary barriers affecting trade.
He further directed authorities to take effective steps to bring direct shipping lines to Pakistani ports, saying direct shipping would make it easier and faster for Pakistani products to reach international buyers.
National Trade Performance Index
Shehbaz directed the preparation of a National Trade Performance Index to measure customs clearance, logistics and other key indicators affecting trade performance.
He also called for special measures to increase the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in international trade.
The prime minister directed authorities to identify and address trade barriers faced by smaller businesses and facilitate their access to international markets.
He also ordered improvements to the risk-management system, directing that only high-risk cargo should undergo detailed inspection to speed up the clearance of low-risk consignments.
Shehbaz called for greater use of artificial intelligence to accelerate trade-related processes and improve efficiency.
Customs clearance targets
The meeting was briefed on targets for the current fiscal year, including increasing pre-arrival clearance to 30%, raising the share of the green channel to 65% and increasing the number of Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) to more than 50 by the end of the fiscal year.
The prime minister also approved targets for a Time Release Automated System for all ports.
He further ordered the establishment of a working group to review non-tariff measures and directed it to present a roadmap within one month.
Shehbaz reiterated the government’s commitment to providing maximum possible facilities to the business community.
He said effective trade facilitation was essential for reducing costs, accelerating commercial activity, increasing exports and strengthening Pakistan’s position in global supply chains.