ISLAMABAD: Participants at a workshop on Wednesday hailed the Federal Board of Revenue’s initiative of doing away with the traditional, one-way communication of the past and starting a more engaging, interactive and productive partnership with the business community, thus leading the way in the use of new innovative technologies to drive socioeconomic changes in the society.
The FBR was appreciated at an orientation workshop held for members of the working groups in the National Single Window (NSW) Implementation. The event was organised at a local hotel by NSW, FBR in collaboration with USAID’s Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA).
The session was inaugurated by the FBR chairman and attended by senior members of the board, representatives of various public sector regulatory authorities/ministries/departments related to cross-border trade, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, traders, ship agents, customs agents, freight forwarders and the business community.
The NSW project director on the occasion gave a detailed presentation on the concept of NSW and its potential benefits for Pakistan, while FBR’s programme management office gave a presentation on the working, composition, rationale and deliverables of the working groups. The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session that generated keen interest among the audience.
In his address, FBR Chairman Dr Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan appreciated the efforts of the FBR member (Customs) and his team for undertaking this project of national significance and assured them his full support in making the project a success.
It is pertinent to mention that the NSW initiative is a key trade facilitation tool that is increasingly being adopted by many advanced as well as developing economies around the world. Under the multilateral trade facilitation agreement that entered into force early last year, Pakistan is committed to establishing a trade-related NSW in five years.
The Prime Minister’s Office, vide its directive dated March 18, 2017, had approved the development of NSW and designated Pakistan Customs as its lead agency keeping in view Customs’ proven track record in successfully re-engineering and automating customs related processes.
Accordingly, FBR has established a programme management office (PMO) in its Customs Wing, which is responsible for the design, implementation, and management of the NSW in consultation and coordination with all stakeholders and development partners.
USAID, under its PREIA initiative, is providing active technical assistance to the Pakistan NSW Initiative in order to ensure the development of the NSW in a structured manner.
