Islamabad
Joint Secretary (WTO), Ministry of Commerce & Textile Ms. Aisha Humera Moriani has said that e-commerce policy of Pakistan would focus on the development and promotion of SMEs for making Pakistan a significant player of the regional and global digital economy.
While addressing a seminar on e-commerce policy of Pakistan organized by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce & Textiles, Aisha Humera Moriani said that e-commerce was a growing trend in the world as e-commerce sales of China reached $1526 billion in 2018 followed by US $526, UK $ 124 billion, Japan $109 billion, S. Korea $78 billion, Germany $73 billion, France $58 billion and Canada $44 billion.
She said that e-commerce sales in Pakistan was over Rs.20.7 billion, which grew by 93.7 percent in 2018 reaching Rs.40.1 billion, which showed that Pakistani businesses has great potential grow through digital sales. She said that the policy would contribute towards achieving higher export growth through enhanced activities from e-platforms, promote small e-businesses and create employment opportunities through digital connectivity for empowering youth, especially in remote areas. The Joint Secretary (WTO), Ministry of Commerce & Textile emphasized that SMEs should use e-commerce platforms to get connected with online markets across the globe for promoting trade and exports.
Sharoon Rasheed Deputy Director State Bank of Pakistan highlighted the role of SBP in promoting e-commerce. He said that SBP will speed up its work on nationwide micropayment gateway and will further facilitate accessibility to international payment gateways.
He said that SBP rules and regulations already facilitated any entity to provide payment services in Pakistan subject to consumer protection, risk management and financial stability. Mr. Iqbal Munir Chief Customs (Exports) Federal Board of Revenue highlighted the role of FBR in promoting e-commerce.
