Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Board to improve Pakistan’s trade supply chain and address non-tariff barriers affecting cross-border commerce. The Prime Minister will personally chair the board, which was approved during a meeting on trade facilitation held in Islamabad. The board will be responsible for developing a roadmap to promote trade, creating a Trade Facilitation Index and establishing a mechanism to monitor progress on trade-related reforms.
The Prime Minister also directed authorities to take emergency measures to improve the operational capacity of the country’s ports. Various working groups will be established to focus on increasing port capacity, improving coordination between relevant departments and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. The groups will also work on enabling pre-arrival clearance and increasing the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade.
As part of the initiative, importers and exporters are expected to receive greater facilities at ports, while procedures linked to transportation and clearance of goods will be simplified. The government’s focus on reducing procedural hurdles is intended to make the movement of goods more efficient and improve the overall trade process for businesses involved in international commerce.
The meeting was also informed about progress under ongoing trade reforms, including a reduction in port charges. According to the briefing, the reduction has already contributed to a significant improvement in port utilization. The government is now seeking to build on these measures through better coordination, streamlined procedures and improved port operations.
The establishment of the Trade Facilitation Board adds a centralized mechanism for monitoring and coordinating trade reforms across relevant government departments. With a dedicated Trade Facilitation Index and working groups focused on port capacity, clearance and regulatory coordination, the initiative is aimed at improving the efficiency of Pakistan’s cross-border trade processes and facilitating greater participation by businesses and SMEs.
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