ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Single Window (PSW) has integrated its digital services with four federal and provincial government departments to ensure the swift issuance of certificates, licences and permissions to cross-border traders electronically.

An official announcement said that services of the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), the Ministry of Narcotics Control (MNC), and partially with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) integrated with PSW digital services.

PSW has also successfully integrated with the Sindh Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control department for the collection of provincial cess and other services related to cross-border trade.

Integration of the PSW system with MNC and MFD enables the online processing and issuance of import permits and export certificates, resulting in significant time and cost savings, while PSW’s DRAP mechanism accelerates the registration and approval process for entities falling under its purview.

Similarly, MMD can now electronically issue seaworthiness certificates for importing used ships and boats through the online submission of applications.

Chief Executive Officer Aftab Haider said that PSW is working to provide a state-of-the-art digital experience to regulators and cross-border traders in fulfilling cross-border trade-related compliance requirements, enabling a wider range of entities to benefit from our services while promoting transparency and driving overall economic growth.

“We have been successfully achieving the performance benchmarks agreed with the government which could not have been possible without the support and commitment of other government agencies and partner organizations working with us”, he further said.

As part of the rollout process, PSW is also conducting information and training sessions to proactively support stakeholders in the optimal use of the system. User adoption of the PSW system is close to 69,000, with coverage in terms of locations, services, OGAs, and new modules continuing to expand steadily.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2023