Islamabad: In a significant development aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s export sector, Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and the Export Development Fund (EDF) have entered into a strategic collaboration to enhance support services for exporters across the country including waiver of PSW’s fee on export declarations. This partnership is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s commitment under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2020-25, which not only emphasized on complete allocation of Export Development Surcharge receipts to the Fund but creation of complete loop starting from identification of the contributor to its involvement in need assessment, identification of representative bodies, feedback and impact assessment mechanism ultimately resulting in export development. PSW, leveraging its position as a national digital platform for trade, will work closely with EDF to create customized tools and data analytics that will assist in streamlining processes and improving decision-making for export development.
“We are excited to work closely with EDF to support Pakistan’s exporters by providing them with the tools, data, and resources they need to succeed in global markets,” said Aftab Haider, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Single Window. “Through this partnership, we will not only help reduce exporters’ costs but also enable more efficient use of export development funds, ensuring that Pakistan’s export potential is fully realized.”
Syed Abbas Mehdi, Executive Director Export Development Fund, highlighted that while EDF has started to receive its revenue directly from exporters, it is now time to initiate effective two communication with exporters as well for effective utilization of the resource as per their needs and provide value added information services.
Waqas Azeem, Joint Secretary Ministry of Commerce appreciated the effort made by EDF and PSW team to launch the strategic initiative and hoped that the initiative will bring all relevant stakeholders on a single platform and will provide information support to the policy makers in making timely and appropriate decision and overseeing the efficiency of organizations in provision of trade related services to the exporters.
Through this collaboration, PSW will facilitate the sharing of critical data and information on Export Development Surcharge (EDS) collection with the EDF, enabling more effective policy decisions and helping EDF target relevant export units for focused support. The integration of data will not only assist in forecasting and reconciling receivables but also allow EDF to optimize the allocation of funds as per needs of the exporters ensuring that export development initiatives are more impactful. PSW’s platform will also help generate sectoral reports, verified information packets and offer market intelligence to EDF, exporters and policy makers through digitalizing ultimately aiding in validation and better identification of priority sectors and markets for export growth.
Moreover, PSW’s extensive network and outreach capabilities will support EDF in conducting capacity-building initiatives, stakeholder education, and awareness campaigns. PSW’s experience in digital communication and its ability to engage with a large number of exporters makes it a vital partner in improving EDF’s digital presence and outreach efforts. This partnership will enhance EDF’s ability to connect with exporters, provide necessary training, and raise awareness on the services available to them.
In another key area of cooperation, PSW has proposed waiving the export Goods Declaration (GD) fees, which are currently charged to exporters. Instead of exporters bearing these costs, EDF will cover these fees from the funds collected through the Export Development Surcharge which itself is a contribution from exporters. This move will highlight the intent of the policy makers to promote digital inclusion with lesser costs to exporters, making PSW services more accessible and aligned with the broader objectives of the EDF and the government’s export enhancement strategies.
This collaboration is expected to achieve several outcomes, including reducing the cost of doing business for exporters, improving EDF’s service delivery, and enhancing its image among the export community. It will also help EDF develop data-driven insights to make more informed policy decisions and tailor export promotion efforts more effectively. By identifying key regional, geographic and sectoral focus areas, the partnership will enable EDF to better target export units, ensuring that efforts are directed where they can yield the most significant impact.
By combining their strengths, PSW and EDF are set to transform the landscape of export support in Pakistan, driving growth and enhancing the nation’s competitiveness in cross-border trade on the global stage.
