Pakistan Single Window Chief Executive Officer Syed Aftab Haider said that a new Port Community System (PCS) will be launched to facilitate cross-border trade, reduce costs and save time.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the system in Karachi during the first week of August. The initiative aimed to accelerate the clearance process of ships and containers at Pakistani ports.
While speaking to the media, Haider said that the system will significantly reduce the clearance time of containers. At present, the grounding of containers in Pakistan takes more than twenty-four hours. In contrast, ports in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai process containers in two to three hours.
Haider noted that the new system has been developed at a cost of only 5.5 million US dollars by Pakistan Single Window, despite the initial estimate of 63 million US dollars. Financial support was provided by the World Bank, USAID and the International Finance Corporation.
According to the briefing, containers are being equipped with new technology to improve operational efficiency.
