ECC approves “Single Window Bill” to facilitate businesses in Pakistan

December 12, 2019: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Thursday approved the “Enactment of Pakistan Single Window Bill, 2019” to be forwarded to the Cabinet. The enactment of the Bill will highly facilitate the businesses in Pakistan.

The approval was given in a meeting of the ECC held with Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the Chair said a press release issued here.

The ECC was apprised that 42 government agencies are involved in granting approvals for different businesses. Through this Single Window, all parties involved in trade and transport can lodge standardized information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfill all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements.

The Customs Wing in FBR had developed NSW Road-map and Implementation Framework, in April 2018 with the help of international experts. The initiative is expected to improve Pakistan’s rating at 'ease of doing business' index. It is expected that the project will be completed in December 2021.

The ECC also allowed the continuation of funding facility by Gas Holding Private Limited (GHPL) for Inter-state Gas Systems (Private) Limited for another 2 years. There will be a provision in the agreement that as soon as the first project reaches closure, ISGS needs to be financially self-sustaining and it should put forward a business plan as to how it will return the loan it had taken.

The ECC approved the placement of the Annual Report of the National Economic Council (NEC) (as required by Article 156 of the Constitution), before the Cabinet after the Chair was briefed that the points raised regarding the report for its placement before the Cabinet, had duly been addressed.

The Ministry of Energy got the approval of a proposal for the extension and rehabilitation of gas networks in oil and gas producing districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Phase 1) and supply of gas to villages falling beyond the 5-KM radius of Mardan Khel-III District Hangu and supply of Gas to Hafizabad.

Accordingly, SNGPL was allowed to execute gas development schemes recommended by DWP and endorsed by the Board of Directors of SNGPL along with an appropriate share of the funding shared between SNGPL and Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

APP