CEO Pakistan Single Window (PSW) Briefed the Business Community Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI

Karachi: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, has apprised that Mr. Syed Aftab Haider, CEO of
Pakistan Single Window (PSW), visited Federation House for a detailed briefing and interactive,
consultative session on the government’s efforts to digitize and streamline customs procedures and
documentations in line with WTO guidelines and international best practices.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted the need to create awareness in the business, industry, trade and
services community of Pakistan on PSW’s facilitation, services and progress made in customs
digitalization so far – as it will enable utilization of PSW from the current utilization of the pre-arrival GDs to a much higher and healthier number.

Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, elaborated that PSW’s aim should be to establish a single
electronic platform to efficiently and flawlessly meet requirements for regulating imports, exports and
transit trade; while simplifying, harmonizing and digitizing the trade processes at the same time.

Mr. Asif Sakhi, VP FPCCI, informed that – on FPCCI’s recommendation – the government authorities
and PSW have decided to abolish Advanced Payments on GDs from July 8, 2025 onwards. The practice
was also against the international best practices and the spirit of trade promotion.

Mr. Syed Aftab Haider, CEO PSW, explained that as part of its trade facilitation and regional connectivity
agenda; Pakistan is committed to reforming, modernizing, upgrading and automating its system to match
the on-going investments in its infrastructure for cross-border trade. Moreover, Pakistan has ratified the
WTO’s Agreement on Trade Facilitation on 27th October, 2015 – PSW is enabling country’s compliance
with the agreement.

CEO PSW informed that – on FPCCI’s demand – its charges of Rs. 500 will be waived to expand its user
base; and, enable them fully utilize its services. He also informed that 22 government departments have
already been connected with PSW; it has a user base of 94,000 as of now; one million documents have
been processed so far and PSW is striving to connect with all 77 relevant government departments ASAP.

Mr. Khurram Ijaz, Chairman of FPCCI’s Advisory Council on Customs – who is also a Director of PSW
representing the private sector – elaborated that PSW’s objectives are transparent trade transactions;
reduced trading costs & delays; hassle-free banking operations for trade; integrated declaration &
automated routing of customs; real-time data exchange via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI); connecting
government departments for paperless processing in customs; ease of doing business for women traders
and boosting exports and FDI