PM to chair new Trade Facilitation Board

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the establishment of the Trade Facilitation Board, indicating that the government is giving trade facilitation greater institutional priority.

The development came during a meeting held in Islamabad, chaired by PM Shehbaz, regarding trade facilitation, according to a statement.

PM Shehbaz will chair the Trade Facilitation Board, which will make decisions on all non-tariff matters related to cross-border trade and improve the entire supply chain. This board will prepare a roadmap for trade promotion, as well as strategies regarding the Trade Facilitation Index and monitoring.

The prime minister has also directed that work be done on an emergency basis to enhance the capacity of the country’s ports and to form various working groups. The working groups will address improving port capacity, promoting coordination among relevant departments, compliance with the regulatory framework, pre-arrival clearance, and the inclusion of small and medium-sized businesses in international trade.

PM also directed authorities to simplify the delivery, clearance, and other matters of goods at ports for importers and exporters and to provide maximum facilities.

The briefing to the meeting stated that port charges have been reduced under ongoing reforms, following which there has been a significant improvement in port usage. There is a continuous increase in the facility to submit goods declarations before the ship’s arrival.