ADB reiterates support to PSW initiative
Pakistan Single Window (PSW) was honored to host Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Pakistan, Mr. Yong Ye for a briefing on the implementation of the Single Window system. Mr. Ye was also updated on the Trade Information Portal of Pakistan (TIPP) which rolled out on March 31, 2022. The ADB country partnership strategy, 2021–2025 for Pakistan focuses on three priorities: improving economic management, building resilience, and boosting competitiveness and private sector development. ADB is supporting the development of PSW, which automates and integrates cross border trade related government processes under a single digital platform to ease international trade. Briefing Mr. Ye on the progress of the PSW, CEO PSW Mr. Aftab Haider said, “PSW is fulfilling its commitment under the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement for the roll out of the PSW system by June 2022. The new system began rolling out in July 2021 and more than 44,000 traders are now registered with the system. PSW has also integrated commercial banks on the PSW platform for real time exchange of financial data with the banks, Pakistan Customs and the State Bank of Pakistan”. The ADB delegation was also given a preview of the Trade Information Portal (TIP) that digitizes over 530 laws, regulations, procedures, and other trade-related measures from over 77 government agencies which can now be accessed online. “With the launch of TIPP, PSW hopes that Pakistan’s business community will have a useful tool to find the information necessary to facilitate their import-export activities” Haider said.