Exploit opportunities from recovering global economy, urges Tarin 

Islamabad: Advisor to Finance Minister on Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin Monday highlighted the importance of taking full advantage of new opportunities emerging out of global economic recovery after being hit by Covid-19 during last two years.

While addressing the launching ceremony of Pakistan Single Window (PSW), the advisor said that during past two years, Covid-19 had badly affected global supply chain and trade.

“Whereas the cost of production and shipping had also gone up,” he added. 

PSW one of the ambitious, wide-ranging and comprehensive reform initiatives undertaken in the public sector in the recent years. 

“The worst seems to be over and as economies begin to recover globally. We expect business activity to resume and in fact grow at a much faster pace. Pakistan and Pakistani business have to be ready for taking advantage of new opportunities,” he said. 

Talking about the PSW, the Premier’s aide said it would not only facilitate international trade but would also help accelerate digital transformation of the public sector agencies connected to international trade.

“PSW was in line with the vision of government to promote competitiveness, transparency and efficiency and lauded Pakistan Custom to leading this initiative,” he said.

Tarin further added that it was priority of the government to facilitate businesses, including small and medium size ones by providing a suitable enabling environment for growth and innovation and improving their competitiveness by reducing their cost and time for doing business.

He expected that the single window would provide a comparative advantage to Pakistan businesses and trading community to enter new markets to enhance exports.

The adviser said, PSW would further boost regional connectivity by effective use of technologies, ensuring enhanced facilitation of trade trading across borders.

Besides, he said it would also help counter financial crimes and trade based money laundering through integration of international shipping and databases and eventually enable seamless connection in dissemination of information to Customs, State Bank of Pakistan and other relevant agencies.

He lauded the efforts of development partners including World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID and IFC for providing technical assistance and support to PSW.

“Business community was also an active partner of PSW, expressing the hope that it would continue support to make PSW more robust and help in its evolution to cater to needs of the businesses,” he added.

He said government was committed to take all possible measures to facilitate legitimate business and promote business environment, adding that business community also had responsibility to play role for development of homeland.

“The major mile stone has been achieved by operationalisation in this regard,” he concluded.