Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the formation of a Trade Facilitation Board to improve trade-related facilities and make the country’s trading system more efficient. The prime minister himself will chair the board.
The decision was taken during an important meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss measures for improving trade facilitation and removing obstacles faced by businesses and traders.
The Trade Facilitation Board will work to improve the entire trade supply chain and address non-tariff issues related to cross-border trade. The board will also take decisions aimed at making trade procedures easier and more efficient.
The board will prepare a roadmap for promoting trade and develop a strategy for monitoring progress. It will also work on the Trade Facilitation Index and other measures to assess improvements in the country’s trade system.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to work on improving the capacity and efficiency of the country’s ports on an urgent basis. He also ordered the formation of working groups for this purpose.
The working groups will focus on improving port capacity, strengthening coordination between relevant departments and ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework.
They will also work on issues such as pre-arrival clearance and other procedures that can help speed up the movement and clearance of goods at ports.
The prime minister directed the authorities to make the process of transporting and clearing goods easier for importers and exporters. He also called for maximum facilities to be provided to the business community at the ports.
The government’s latest move is aimed at improving the trade system, reducing delays and making it easier for businesses to import and export goods. The Trade Facilitation Board is expected to play a key role in coordinating efforts to improve the country’s overall trade environment.