KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has taken cognizance of the reports that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has its own list of essential and non-essential items circulated among the commercial banks for implementation. The list is accordingly uploaded in the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) system.
Sharjeel Jamal, Convener of FPCCI Advisory Committee on Trade and Regulatory Laws has written a letter to the CEO of PSW, requesting the following information:
- The statutory provisions under which the SBP list can be binding upon the importers, since the prevailing Import Policy Order (IPO) does not have any such provision.
- The lists of items suggested by the scheduled banks, if any, along with the statutory provisions authorizing the same.
- The list of various sub-committees and their members of the Governing Body of PSW along with the minutes of Governing Council and Sub-Committees meetings.
- The detailed procedure of the renewal of membership/license of PSW.
- The copies of gazette notifications issued so far under section 8(2) of Pakistan Single Window Act, 2021 imposing fee and service charges.
The FPCCI has requested the information to be provided at the earliest.
The story highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the trade and regulatory environment in Pakistan. The FPCCI’s request for information is a step in the right direction and will help to ensure that businesses are aware of the rules and regulations that apply to them.
The Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is a newly launched trade system, which provides a facility to parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements.
The PSW is a one-stop shop for all trade-related information and services. It provides a secure and efficient platform for businesses to interact with government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the trade process. The PSW aims to reduce the time and cost of doing business in Pakistan, and to improve the efficiency and transparency of the trade process.
The PSW is a joint initiative of the Government of Pakistan and the World Bank. It is being implemented by the Pakistan Customs and the Pakistan Trade Development Authority. The PSW is funded by the World Bank and the Government of Pakistan.
The PSW was launched in March 2022. It is currently in the pilot phase and is being used by a limited number of businesses. The PSW is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2023.