ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Board, which he will personally chair. The decision was made during a meeting focused on trade facilitation held in the capital.

According to Radio Pakistan, the newly approved board aims to enhance the trade supply chain by addressing non-tariff issues related to cross-border trade. It is expected to develop a roadmap for trade promotion, create a Trade Facilitation Index, and devise a strategy for monitoring progress. The Prime Minister has emphasized the need to improve the operational capacity of the country’s ports, instructing that this be done on an emergency basis.

In addition to these initiatives, various working groups will be established to focus on enhancing port capacity, improving coordination among relevant departments, ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework, pre-arrival clearance, and increasing the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade. The Prime Minister also directed that procedures relating to the transportation and clearance of goods be simplified to provide maximum facilities for importers and exporters. The meeting noted that recent reductions in port charges have led to improved port utilization.