KARACHI (September 11, 2026): Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI, and Former Provincial Minister Information Technology, has welcomed the establishment of the Trade Facilitation Board under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, terming it a game-changer for the national economy, industrial growth, and international trade. He said that for the first time in the country’s history, a comprehensive and coordinated strategy has been formulated at the highest level to eliminate non-tariff barriers, logistical bottlenecks, and port delays in cross-border trade. This will significantly reduce the cost of doing business and make domestic products to some extent competitive in international markets.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that the concrete targets set by the Prime Minister by the end of the current fiscal year during the Board’s maiden meeting are highly encouraging. Increasing the ratio of cargo clearance through the Green Channel to 65% and achieving a 30% target for pre-arrival clearance will bring unprecedented facilitation for importers and exporters. This initiative will drastically reduce cargo processing time, saving billions of rupees in precious foreign exchange currently lost to demurrage and detention charges. Similarly, the decision to increase the number of Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs) to over 50 will provide the fastest customs clearance facilities to certified businesses in line with international standards, leading to a record surge in the country’s trade volume.
The veteran business leader noted that in the UN’s 2025 Trade Facilitation Index, Pakistan’s score stood at 74.19%, lagging behind regional and global peers such as India (93.5%), Malaysia (90.32%), Singapore (96.77%), and the Netherlands (97.85%). Furthermore, Pakistan’s score in cross-border paperless trade was a mere 55.56%. This highlights that in the next phase, the focus must shift from merely installing software to ensuring the reliable exchange of data between institutions and partner countries.
Mian Zahid Hussain added that the establishment of the National Trade Performance Index on the Prime Minister’s directives, coupled with the regular monitoring of core metrics like cargo dwell time, customs clearance, logistics, and vessel clearance, will bring a visible improvement in institutional performance and transparency. Appreciating the PM’s decision to mandate a working group to present a roadmap within a month for a comprehensive audit of non-tariff measures and the elimination of unnecessary regulatory burdens, he remarked that red tape and complex regulations have long suppressed the export sector’s potential. He termed the directives for a ‘One-Window’ or Joint Inspection by all relevant agencies at ports and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Customs Risk Management as aligned with modern trade requirements. This will ensure that only high-risk cargo or commercial entities are scrutinized, while routine consignments are cleared without interruption.
Mian Zahid Hussain specifically emphasized that the decision to regularly map barriers to connect Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)—the backbone of the economy—with global markets will prove revolutionary. Facilitating SMEs in cross-border trade will not only generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs but also broaden the export base. Additionally, measures to attract international shipping lines to Pakistani ports will drastically reduce transit times and freight costs from factory floors to global buyers. Mian Zahid Husain said that the business community fully supports the Prime Minister’s vision and remains hopeful that the early achievement of export targets will be ensured through the strict implementation of these proposed measures and directives.
