ISLAMABAD: The National E-Commerce Council (NeCC) on Tuesday decided to formulate a five-year roadmap and action plan to boost digital trade.
The decision was taken at the council's ninth meeting chaired by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
Representatives from various sectors also gave presentations highlighting the obstacles preventing the promotion of e-commerce.
It was decided that the new cross-cutting policy would be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar ahead of the Budget Session.
To achieve this short deadline, the Minister of Commerce has directed the formation of two to three working groups with clear terms of reference (TOR), including one focusing on payment systems.
The minister's five-year framework directive comes just as the national budget is due to be presented on June 7, with many experts saying it is unlikely that any policy would be formulated in such short time.
Representatives of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) briefed NeCC on the performance of Pakistan Trade Portal (PTP), which currently has 3,555 sellers and 1,342 buyers registered with it, listing 8,345 products across 34 cities.
The Minister appreciated the efforts of TDAP in registering customers on the PTP in the last three to four months and recommended linking it with other portals to further facilitate customer registration.
Commerce Secretary Suareh Ahmed Farooqui announced the upcoming Export Readiness Programme (ERP) aimed at training and advising small and medium enterprises to expand their export markets, an initiative which is expected to boost Pakistan's export capacity.
The meeting began with the Director General of Services providing an overview and setting the stage for a series of presentations on various aspects of e-commerce in Pakistan. The focus was on leveraging technology to increase market access and competitiveness.
A representative from the State Bank of Pakistan presented the current status of digital payment systems and stressed the need for a robust and secure payment infrastructure to support the growth of e-commerce.
Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) discussed the challenges facing the IT sector and suggested strategies for its growth.
The Association of Chain Stores and Alpha Mall, the first ever bank-backed e-commerce platform, also highlighted the trends in B2C retail e-commerce in Pakistan and provided insights into consumer behavior and market trends. They also highlighted its potential to revolutionize online retail in the country.
The meeting also reviewed significant achievements since the approval of the National E-Commerce Policy in October 2019.
Published in The Dawn on May 29, 2024
