Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved the establishment of the Trade Facilitation Board while chairing a meeting regarding trade facilitation in Islamabad today. The Prime Minister himself will head the newly formed board, which aims to enhance the trade supply chain and address non-tariff issues related to cross-border trade.

According to Radio Pakistan, the proposed board will be responsible for creating a roadmap to promote trade, developing a Trade Facilitation Index, and devising strategies to monitor progress. The Prime Minister has also emphasized the need for emergency improvements in the operational capacity of the country's ports. To achieve this, various working groups will be established, focusing on enhancing port capacity, improving inter-departmental coordination, ensuring regulatory compliance, pre-arrival clearance, and increasing the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade.

The Prime Minister further directed that maximum facilities be provided to importers and exporters at ports, with simplified procedures for transportation, clearance of goods, and other related matters. The meeting was informed that recent reforms have led to a reduction in port charges, resulting in significant improvements in port utilization.