KARACHI: Pakistan Customs will be the lead agency of Pakistan Single Window (PSW) operations and Member Customs would serve as the Secretary of the Governing Council, while Special Judges Customs and Taxation will be the judge for trying offences under the provisions of Pakistan Single Window Act, 2020.
Pakistan Single Window Act, 2020 will be promulgated effective July 01, 2021, a notification suggests.
The Ministry of Finance notified the Governing Council of Pakistan Single Window. The council will comprise if Federal Minister-in-Charge for Finance and Revenue as Chairperson; Secretary Ministry of Commerce, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Secretary Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Secretary Ministry of National Health Services, Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control, Additional Secretary (Economic Affairs) Prime Minister Secretariat, Member Customs-FBR and Chief Executive Officer of the operating entity as members.
In addition, four additional members who are specialists in areas related to international trade, logistics information and communication technology and corporate governance will be included from private sector upon recommendations of the chairperson.
Secretariat of the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) will be established at Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with sub-offices in Karachi and Lahore.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the implementation of Pakistan Single Window (PSW) will bring $500 million annual savings and reduce cargo clearance time from days to hours by integrating over 75 regulatory departments. PSW Act 2021 will pave the way for ease in imports and exports.
In April this year, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) inaugurated the PSW Company in Islamabad as part of compliance with the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Prime Minister Imran Khan had tasked Customs to complete this highly transformational project for reducing time, cost and complication while ensuring better compliance with cross-border trade regulations. Project Director Muhammad Imran Khan and Advisor on Customs USAID Syed Aftab Haider played a leading in the development of the Act.