FPCCI urges activation of Risk Management Systems of DPP, PSQCA

President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, has urged the government to activate Risk Management Systems (RMS) of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Other Government Agencies (OGAs) on the pattern of customs.

In a statement released on Monday, Sheikh lauded the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the digital transformation plan to facilitate trade in Pakistan, as well as the implementation of faceless assessment and the pre-arrival facility through the post-payment mechanism.

FPCCI chief highlighted that despite these improvements, challenges persist in the regulatory sphere of imports and exports.

“Whereas, the majority of regulatory trade is being managed through Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and major OGAs have been integrated with PSW, consignments are still being cleared only after mandatory inspections unnecessarily,” the president was quoted as saying.

He further said that the implementation of RMS by the government departments can “further streamline import and export processes; reduce unnecessary inspections; minimise dwell time and enhance ease of doing business in Pakistan”.

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Moreover, Senior Vice President FPCCI, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, maintained that initially several challenges and teething problems were faced when the faceless assessment system was deployed; however, after the posting of Chief Collector Wajid Ali and his consultation with the trade and industry, several genuine issues were eventually addressed.

“The faceless assessment process is now significantly, effectively benefiting trade and industry – and the dwell time of consignments is gradually reducing as well,” he said.