PM Shehbaz Sharif approves new Trade Facilitation Board

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Board aimed at making Pakistan’s trade system more efficient, improving supply chains and addressing hurdles faced by importers and exporters.

The decision was taken during an important meeting on trade facilitation chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday.

Under the proposed structure, the prime minister himself will chair the Trade Facilitation Board, giving the initiative a high-level political oversight. The board will be responsible for taking decisions on non-tariff issues affecting cross-border trade and improving coordination across the complete trade supply chain.

The government also plans to develop a clear roadmap for promoting trade, along with a Trade Facilitation Index and a monitoring strategy to assess progress and identify areas requiring further reforms.

Focus on ports and faster clearance

A major part of the meeting focused on improving the capacity and efficiency of Pakistan’s ports. Prime Minister Shehbaz directed authorities to work on the issue on an emergency basis and establish dedicated working groups for the purpose.

These groups will examine measures to enhance port capacity, improve coordination among relevant government departments and ensure compliance with the regulatory framework.

Another key area will be pre-arrival clearance, which can help reduce delays by allowing customs and other procedures to begin before a vessel reaches the port.

The prime minister also called for greater facilities for importers and exporters, particularly in the movement and clearance of goods at ports. The objective is to make international trade easier, faster and more predictable for businesses.

Reforms already showing impact

Officials briefed the meeting that ongoing reforms had already resulted in a reduction in port charges. According to the briefing, the reduction had contributed to a noticeable improvement in port utilisation.

The submission of Goods Declarations before the arrival of ships has also been increasing steadily, reflecting greater adoption of faster clearance procedures.

The government believes that improving trade infrastructure and removing administrative bottlenecks can help reduce costs for businesses while strengthening Pakistan’s position in international markets.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and other senior officials.

The formation of the board signals the government’s intention to place trade facilitation at the centre of its economic reform agenda, with particular emphasis on smoother border procedures, efficient ports and stronger coordination between state institutions and the business community.