ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs has developed an e-commerce automated clearance facility in collaboration with Sate Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Ministry of Commerce and e-commerce operators to promote business-to-consumer exports.

An official announcement issued on Friday said the new system will facilitate documentation besides allowing commercial banks to register e-commerce traders in Web Based One Customs (WeBOC).

Under the SBP regulatory framework for B2C e-commerce exports, the exporters shall send their e-commerce consignments without the requirement of E-Form up to $5,000 per consignment. The shipments shall be made through courier companies registered with Pakistan Customs who shall file the Goods Declaration in WeBOC system on behalf of exporters.

Each individual consignment shall be identified on the basis of unique HAWB number. The details of export shipments shall be accessible to banks in the e-commerce profile of the exporters in the system after the export of goods from Pakistan.

The exporter shall be required to ensure realisation of export proceeds within 60 days from the date of shipment. The export proceeds shall be received from abroad by commercial banks, through banking channel or international payment scheme/gateway, either in foreign currency or in Pakistani rupee from Non-Resident Rupee Account Repatriable.

Various MIS reports have been provided in the system to SBP and commercial banks for settlement of export realisation and fulfilment of other regulatory requirements.

The e-commerce operators have lauded the initiative that will remove the difficulties faced by SME sector in exporting their goods thus playing an effective role in improving country’s rating in the Ease of Doing Business Index.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2020