ISLAMABAD: Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed said the fast paced infrastructure development under the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) would enhance the trust of traders and the business community on public services.
The chairman FBR expressed these views during a visit to PSW headquarters, here on Tuesday for a briefing on the implementation of the PSW system. He was accompanied by PSW Project Director Mohammed Imran and other officials of the FBR.
Dr Ahmed appreciated the PSW for its continuous efforts in evolving as a national organisation for supporting Pakistan’s traders. He expressed his satisfaction on the implementation pace and resolved to extend full support to the PSW programme. “FBR is very proud to be leading such groundbreaking initiatives that will transform trade, streamline export and import processes and enhance Pakistan’s connectivity to the global supply chain,” he added.
On his arrival, CEO PSW Aftab Haider welcomed the FBR delegation and apprised them on the progress of the PSW programme. The chairman was given a detailed presentation on the Trade Information Portal of Pakistan (TIPP) that is scheduled to be launched in March 2022 in line with Pakistan’s commitment under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
“A major reason for non-compliance of traders with Customs and regulatory laws is their inability to access updated, authentic, and reliable information on the required compliances.”
Haider stated during the briefing, “the Trade Information Portal will overcome the existing information asymmetry and serve as a single repository of all import, export, and transit trade related information for guidance of the traders, clearing agents, government officials and other stakeholders.”
The chairman was given a demo of the portal by TIPP lead Umair Mehmood and shown various features developed for the guidance of the overseas Pakistanis and investors. During the briefing, the chairman FBR was also updated on the integration status of the commercial banks with the PSW platform to take away the condition of mandatory electronic Form ‘E’ and Form ‘I’ of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The PSW has recently activated its ‘Trader Support Centre’ providing 24/7 phone and email support to the PSW users.
The PSW is an initiative of Pakistan’s federal government with a focus of transforming the trade and industry ecosystem. The programme encompasses several aligned smaller initiatives to support the PSW’s cause of transforming trade such as business processes re-engineering, integrated risk management, ports community systems, introduction of new technology for trade management, data standardization and harmonization, and integrated tariff management system, PSW high-ups informed chairman FBR.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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