PSW is Helping Women Break Trade Barriers

Islamabad, 21 November (PNI) In Pakistan, women constitute around 50% of the country’s population and contribute towards national development in multiple ways in both the formal and informal sectors. However, despite considerable advancement in female education and career opportunities, women traders, service providers (brokers, freight forwarders, transporters) and women-led businesses are conspicuous by their absence in Pakistan’s cross-border trade ecosystem. As the leading public sector entity responsible for the digital transformation of cross-border trade and the notified operator of the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) system, PSW is cognizant of the need for and the importance of enhancing women’s participation in cross-border trade through gender-responsive trade facilitation measures and is working on various initiatives aimed at maximizing the benefits for women involved in cross-border trade.
Pakistan Single Window (PSW) launched a dedicated women’s helpline 021-111-111-779 to provide guidance and customer support to women traders and entrepreneurs using the PSW system and its allied components for imports, exports, and trade regulatory requirements. In recent years there has been a renewed focus in Pakistan on increasing women’s participation in commerce and trade including cross-border trade by several government and non-governmental organizations. As a socially aware and responsible entity, PSW is committed to serving the community and society through inclusive and equitable policies and operations that support the economic growth agenda of the Government of Pakistan and are fully aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030.
A statement released from the office of the CEO of PSW, Mr. Syed Aftab Haider, stated “ The initiative is part of PSW’s effort to increase its outreach to women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses who face challenges in connecting to the global economy due to gender-related barriers. Digitization of customs and trade-related procedures offer special opportunities for women-owned businesses to overcome these barriers, get better access to information and business opportunities, and leverage technology for enhancing export competitiveness.”
Due to its unique organizational and business model that promotes deep engagement, collaboration, coordination, and cooperation amongst the different public and private sector entities connected with international trade, PSW is well-placed to leverage its extensive network, resources, and goodwill for the training and capacity building of women entrepreneurs, traders, and women-led businesses to promote and facilitate their integration with Pakistan’s international supply chain and cross-border trade.

PSW is launching several initiatives with the aim to:
Increase women’s participation in cross-border trade reflected in gender-segregated data on trade.
Expand the benefits of international trade for women and promote financial and economic empowerment of women.
Reduce the gender gap in businesses, promote social inclusion and increase the living standards of women and work towards ending gender discrimination.
Increase women’s socioeconomic role in the economy and society to improve overall productivity and growth.

Pakistan Single Window is an initiative of the federal government of Pakistan. It automates and integrates cross-border trade-related procedures of Customs and other government agencies (OGAs), making trade faster, easier, and cheaper. Through the Pakistan Single Window, traders can submit customs declarations, permits, and other information required by several government agencies through a single digital portal. Amongst other goals, the PSW system seeks to narrow the opportunity and gender gap through a fully integrated digital system that provides women entrepreneurs with an easily accessible environment where they can transact with minimal cost and without the cost of intermediaries. PSW is also the first public sector company to have conducted a gender audit of its system and internal policies and is also working on implementing a gender action plan for improving women trader participation in international trade as well as inducting more women employees in leadership roles in the PSW company.