ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Single Window (PSW) inches closer to the launch of cross-border trade-related Trade Information Portal of Pakistan (TIPP).
Sources told Business Recorder that the PSW team has achieved another milestone by validating the regulatory content of 21 OGAs (other government agencies) as listed in the PSW Act, 2021, with the active contribution of all trade regulators.
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The TIPP serves as a single online repository for all cross-border trade-related information including updated trade regulations, processes procedures, statistics, forms, information requirements and fee structure etc.
It will be fully operational by March 2022.
The validation workshops were held separately in Karachi and Islamabad from 16 to 17November and 22 to 24 November, respectively.
The validation workshops were able to get signoffs from various government departments.
The TIPP’s OGAs refer to those government agencies who are mentioned in the import and export policy orders.
“Validation is a critical step until its regulator verifies the information for digitizing the regulatory measures with accuracy and correctness on a single trade facilitation portal,” states Umair Mahmood Siddiqui, project lead TIPP in the PSW.
This trade validation process has brought in organisations, which regulate 80 percent of trade quantum in Pakistan.
For the first time, the TIPP will have immediate and most recent trade statistics with regard to imports and exports from Pakistan.
The 100 percent content validation of various departments was completed including the DRAP, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of Interior, the Pakistan Tobacco Board, Alternative Energy Development Board, the Ozone Unit and International Cooperation (IC) wings of the Ministry of Climate Change, the EPA Punjab and Pak EPA, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan Stone Development Company, and the Pemra.
Moreover, the content validation was also completed for Narcotics Control Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Wildlife Department of KP, Ministry of Commerce, and Aviation Division.
Furthermore, the validation included Federal Seeds Certification and Registration Department under the Minister of National Food Security and Research.
These also included PSQCA, Animal Quarantine Department and the Department for Plant Protection.
Additionally, partial validation was conducted by Ministry of Defense Production.
Moreover, new content was created for Department of Explosives and new information was received from Engineering Development Board and Marine Fisheries Department.
Chief Executive Officer of PSW Aftab Haider appreciated the sign-offs from these government agencies and hoped that TIPP will serve as one window for all trade-related information in Pakistan.
“TIPP is another transformative initiative under the PSW which will benefit all stakeholders for conducting imports or exports around the world,” he added.
Besides achieving compliance with commitments under the WTO’s Agreement on Trade Facilitation, the establishment of the TIPP will greatly enhance transparency and ease of doing business for all stakeholders including economic operators, investors, academia and public sector organizations.
The PSW is an initiative of Pakistan’s federal government with a focus of transforming the trade and industry ecosystem.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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