Customs clearance procedures: Joint Trade Facilitation Committee formed

KARACHI: In a significant development aimed at improving trade operations and Customs clearance procedures, Wajid Ali, Chief Collector of Customs (South), has constituted a Joint Trade Facilitation Committee (JTFC) following recommendations from the country’s apex trade body.

The formation of the committee comes in response to a proposal by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) made during a recent meeting of its Standing Committee on Economic Services Operations.

Muhammad Arshad Jamal, Convener of the FPCCI Committee, highlighted the pressing need for such a mechanism, particularly to tackle challenges arising from the faceless clearance system currently in operation.

He expressed appreciation to the chief collector for maintaining regular coordination with the business community and actively working to address their concerns.

The chief collector has formally issued a notification establishing the JTFC, bringing together key stakeholders to ensure comprehensive representation from both public and private sectors. The committee’s mandate includes facilitating trade and industry, reducing the cost of doing business, and fostering a more secure and business-friendly economic environment.

Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s trade and industrial sectors. He emphasised that the JTFC would provide a platform for all relevant stakeholders to collectively address and resolve ongoing challenges confronting the business community.

The FPCCI has nominated three prominent representatives to the committee: Asif Sakhi (Vice President, FPCCI), Muhammad Arshad Jamal (former vice president, FPCCI), and Khurram Ejaz (former vice president, FPCCI).

Magoon described the initiative as a significant milestone in strengthening public-private partnership and creating a more efficient, transparent, and responsive trade facilitation ecosystem in Pakistan. The move is expected to enhance coordination between customs authorities and the business community while addressing operational bottlenecks in the clearance process.

The establishment of the JTFC reflects the government’s commitment to ease of doing business reforms and demonstrates the Customs department’s proactive approach to engaging with trade stakeholders in addressing systemic challenges.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025