ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Thursday reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to the expansion and facilitation of the e-Commerce sector in Pakistan, viewing it as a key driver of future economic growth and digital transformation.
The assurance came during a meeting between Tarin and CEO of Daraz, Bjarke Mikkelsen. The meeting focused on strategies to further strengthen the e-Commerce ecosystem and explore avenues for public-private collaboration.
Tarin expressed full support for initiatives that promote the digital marketplace and invited Daraz to propose concrete steps where the government can collaborate with the e-Commerce industry. He emphasized that the government sees immense potential in digital platforms like Daraz to uplift small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are vital to the country’s economic engine.
He added that fostering the e-Commerce sector would not only boost entrepreneurial opportunities but also create substantial employment for the youth across Pakistan. Tarin reiterated that the present government views e-Commerce as a strategic pillar for attracting future foreign direct investment (FDI).
During the meeting, the Managing Director of Daraz Pakistan briefed the minister on the platform’s current footprint. He highlighted that Daraz hosts more than 20 million products and attracts approximately 15 million visitors each month. He noted that various concessions provided by the government to the IT and digital economy sectors have significantly benefitted e-Commerce businesses and helped them grow rapidly.
CEO Mikkelsen requested increased industry representation in policy discussions and urged the simplification of tax administration and compliance procedures for e-Commerce platforms. He stressed that simplified regulations would encourage wider participation and facilitate better compliance across digital platforms.
In response, Tarin welcomed these suggestions and asked the Daraz team to share detailed proposals, particularly on how to bring more SMEs into the formal digital economy through e-Commerce platforms.
The meeting concluded on a positive note with the Daraz team thanking Tarin for his proactive approach and promising to submit actionable recommendations for fostering inclusive and sustainable growth of the e-Commerce sector in Pakistan.