Karachi, January 3, 2025 – The Pakistan Single Window (PSW) has announced the integration of seven key government authorities into its digital trade platform to streamline customs clearance and enhance trade facilitation.
The Revenue Division, through SRO 2076 issued on Friday, notified that the governing council of PSW has identified the agencies to which the system will apply. These integrations, effective from July 1, 2024, include:
1. Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP)
2. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)
3. Special Technology Zone Authority (STZA)
4. Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB)
5. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA)
6. Balochistan Revenue Authority (BRA)
7. Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA)
This development aligns with Pakistan’s broader agenda of modernizing its trade infrastructure to support regional connectivity and economic growth. The initiative is part of the country’s commitment to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation, which Pakistan ratified on October 27, 2015. Under Article 10.4 of this agreement, Pakistan pledged to establish a trade-related National Single Window (NSW) system, a task designated as a ‘Category C’ commitment with a five-year implementation timeline starting February 22, 2017.
The PSW platform, launched as a digital trade solution, is designed to transform Pakistan’s trading ecosystem. Operated as a public sector company under Section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017, the PSW has been officially notified as the ‘Operating Entity’ under the PSW Act 2021.
Pakistan Customs, a division of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), was designated as the Lead Agency for the NSW’s implementation in October 2017. This decision reflects international best practices, as customs administrations often play a central role in regulating cross-border trade. Pakistan Customs has already demonstrated its capability by successfully deploying automation-based initiatives like the Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) system, which facilitates 90% of the country’s trade with paperless processing.
The integration of these seven authorities marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to streamline trade operations, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance the ease of doing business. The PSW’s adoption underscores Karachi’s pivotal role as a trade hub and its potential to drive economic progress through digital innovation.