Abdul Wajid Khan

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is working to enhance cooperation with private sector training organisations by launching ‘Trainer Accreditation’ and ‘Training Partner’ programs for the capacity building of traders, reports WealthPK.

According to information provided by the PSW, change management is an essential component of the PSW implementation strategy. Accordingly, an extensive change management framework has been developed to support the implementation of the PSW system and its various modules. This includes a series of onsite and virtual learning activities including workshops, training modules, seminars and webinars, and trade shows for internal and external users, with a strong focus on digital engagement, and use of new technologies.

The trainings are delivered by the PSW domain and IT teams in collaboration with different government departments and trade associations in various cities.

According to PSW, it has conducted capacity-building sessions in Faisalabad and Gujranwala in collaboration with All-Pakistan Bedsheets and Upholstery Association of Pakistan (APBUMA) and the Seed Importers and Producers Association of Pakistan (SIPAP) as part of its Change Management component.

While talking to WealthPK, the PSW CEO Syed Aftab Haider said the PSW is one of the most significant reforms initiatives which were introduced in the public sector during the last few years, and it is transforming international trade in Pakistan. He said this initiative has been launched to facilitate the country’s cross-border trade by reducing time and cost of doing business.

Currently, the development and implementation of PSW system is well underway. Under the initiative, he added, the PSW has integrated more than 77 government divisions and departments on a single digital platform, thereby reducing costs, delays and providing ease of international trade.

It will make trade clearance process more efficient and simpler for traders to achieve full online compliance. In the prevailing system, more than nine days are required to clear a consignment of import, while it will take three to four days on average to clear a consignment of export, which is much higher time than the average clearance time of regional countries.

The banking system has also been integrated with the PSW and unnecessary paperwork is being eliminated, and all necessary information is shared online. Physical presence of traders is being reduced during the clarence process of their consignments.

The PSW will share real time information to all relevant institutions for clearance process.

“We are introducing latest technologies in trade facilitation. Trade Information Portal is being established to provide all relevant information. We are building strong partnership with the private sector under this initiative. All trade related data will be protected with the help of the latest technology, and it will also stop any unauthorised use. We are integrating the PSW with TradeLens, which is being utilised in the world for international shipping in government and private sectors,” he said.

Aftab said that after the integration of PSW with TradeLens, it will start getting 127 diffident data elements and documents from TradeLens in which complete information of consignments from partner countries will be available.

It will help Pakistan Customs to assess consignments and provide ease for tax collections. It will also help to counter money laundering and financial malpractices. He said the PSW will also be integrated with other international database platforms to get timely, reliable, authentic database for Customs clearance.

“The successful implementation of PSW is likely to save around $500 million annually for the national economy, and it will be a game changer for the transformation of international trade in Pakistan by adding great value to it,” Aftab said.

The PSW system began rolling out in July 2021 and achieved phase-1 completion on June 30, 2022, in line with Pakistan’s commitment under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

It currently has more than 52,000 registered users. Services currently offered by the system include electronic customs registration, online processing, and issuance of import permits, phyto-sanitary certificates, release orders, and digital payments.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPak