ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s lack of policy direction for the digital transformation of the economy threatens the realization of its e-commerce potential, an Islamabad-based think tank says in a study released on Friday.
In 2020, the State Bank of Pakistan forecasts total e-commerce activity in Pakistan to have more than tripled since 2016-17. However, the growth of the e-commerce sector “has largely been in spite of government policy action (or lack thereof), not because of it,” the report says.
According to technology policy expert Anum Malkani, who authored the study published by Tabadlab, despite e-commerce being recognized as an important tool to boost small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), employment and exports, the policy response has been slow.
While the Ministry of Commerce released Pakistan’s e-commerce policy in October 2019 to address the slow pace and lack of direction, Tabadlab argues there remains ambiguity on key issues such as data protection, digital financial transactions, and foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce.
To truly transform transactions, the study says, policy must strengthen the technology and payments infrastructure and improve access across the country and regulatory framework, including protecting consumers from fraud, and ensuring data protection and privacy.
It must also clarify taxation policy with regard to local and international e-commerce, and enable access to foreign markets through multilateral and bilateral agreements.
If not addressed, according Tabadlab, the gaps threaten the realization of Pakistan’s e-commerce potential.
Policy gaps threaten realization of Pakistan’s e-commerce potential — study
https://arab.news/rsx74
Policy gaps threaten realization of Pakistan’s e-commerce potential — study
- SBP forecasts e-commerce activity in 2020 to have more than tripled since 2016
- Policy ambiguity remains with regard to data protection, digital financial transactions and FDI
Pakistan launches first ‘global-standard’ bunkering service at Karachi Port
- Pakistan expects regulated ship-fueling to attract more international vessels and boost maritime revenues
- New bunkering regime aims to align Karachi Port with global safety, fuel-quality and operational standards
KARACHI: Pakistan has launched standardized, international-grade bunkering operations at Karachi Port for the first time, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs said on Tuesday, marking a major step toward modernizing the country’s maritime services and aligning its ports with global shipping standards.
Bunkering, which is the refueling of ships with marine fuels such as oil and gas, is a critical component of global maritime logistics. International ports offering regulated, safe and efficiently managed bunkering are able to attract more vessel traffic, shorten port calls, reduce operational risks and expand commercial services ranging from repairs to maritime supply chains.
Until now, Pakistan’s largest harbor, Karachi Port, had not offered a bunkering service that met global operational and safety benchmarks, placing it at a competitive disadvantage compared with regional hubs in the Middle East and South Asia.
Pakistan, whose coastline sits along key trade routes linking the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has been seeking to upgrade port facilities as part of broader efforts to boost foreign-exchange earnings, strengthen logistics competitiveness and capture a larger share of regional shipping activity. The introduction of regulated bunkering is widely viewed by maritime analysts as a foundational service required of any port aiming to function as a serious commercial hub.
“The move brings Pakistan’s largest port in line with global maritime safety and operational standards, a step long viewed as essential for improving country’s standing in the regional shipping market,” Federal Maritime Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said in a statement released by his office.
“The introduction of regulated bunkering would remove a long-standing gap in Karachi Port’s service offering, enabling it to compete more effectively with established bunkering hubs in the region and the wider area,” the statement added.
According to the ministry, regulated bunkering is expected to attract more international shipping lines.
“The availability of safe, reliable and efficiently managed bunkering facilities is expected to draw more international shipping lines to Karachi, particularly operators seeking streamlined port calls and predictable service standards,” the statement said.
Chaudhry said increased vessel traffic would generate higher foreign-exchange earnings through port fees, marine services and ancillary commercial activity, including repairs, supplies and maritime logistics. The resulting rise in operational activity is also expected to stimulate employment across multiple layers of Pakistan’s maritime economy.
The minister said the new service would enhance Pakistan’s visibility in the international maritime market by demonstrating the country’s commitment to modern, environmentally responsible and globally competitive port management. He added that compliance with international standards covering fuel quality, safety procedures, documentation and transparency was essential to building confidence among shipowners and global trading companies.
In its first phase, operations will begin in partnership with a leading global energy trading house using certified international practices. The statement said the service would expand as domestic refineries increase supplies of refined fuel meeting global specifications, calling the development “a direct benefit to the national exchequer.”
Karachi Port Trust had reviewed global procedures, drafted new documentation and engaged stakeholders to operationalize the service, the ministry said, adding that the milestone “reinforces KPT’s ambition to operate as a leading regional hub” and signals Pakistan’s commitment to “expanding port capabilities in line with international benchmarks.”
