KARACHI: In a significant step toward streamlining trade operations and improving the ease of doing business, the Pakistan Single Window (PSW), in collaboration with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Customs, has extended the post-payment regime to the Sindh Infrastructure Development Cess (SIDC) within the WeBOC/PSW ecosystem.
According to a press release issued by the PSW on Monday, this follows the successful transition of customs duties and taxes to a post-payment system in July, marking a key milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to modernise trade and improve efficiency in the business environment.
This initiative, supported by the PSW, is part of the broader strategy of the FBR to simplify trade procedures and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses. Previously, traders were required to pay SIDC upfront before the assessment, which often discouraged early filing of Goods Declarations (GDs) and created liquidity challenges. By enabling SIDC to be paid after the customs clearance process, the new post-payment arrangement addresses these issues and supports the smooth flow of trade, reducing delays, and enhancing predictability for traders.
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The extension of the post-payment regime to the SIDC ensures that all major duties and taxes follow a unified post-assessment process, the handout read. This harmonisation streamlines customs clearance procedures and contributes to faster processing times, reducing the wait time for shipments and enhancing cargo dwell time performance. With the removal of pre-clearance payment requirements, traders can now retain liquidity and focus on growing their businesses, while the overall efficiency of the trade process is significantly improved.
Talking to Business Recorder, eminent entrepreneur and industrialist Muhammad Farooque Shaikhani said, “I view this step as a positive and timely reform for Pakistan’s trade ecosystem, especially for small traders and small industries. The extension of the post-payment regime to SIDC reflects PSW’s seriousness in reducing procedural bottlenecks and aligning provincial levies with modern digital trade practices. Traders clearly appreciated such reforms that ease cash flow pressure and encourage early and transparent filing. This move strengthens confidence in digital systems and improves ease of doing business in Sindh.”
He said for small traders and small industries, this system is extremely beneficial as it directly addresses liquidity constraints. Allowing SIDC payment after customs clearance enables businesses to file Goods Declarations early without blocking working capital, he said.
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“It reduces delays, minimises port dwell time, and brings predictability to trade operations. Through PSW’s integrated digital platform, traders save time, reduce compliance costs, and avoid unnecessary physical interactions. Overall, it supports smoother trade flows, faster clearances, and creates a more business-friendly environment for Small Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs),” he said.
