TFN advocates a trade-flow facilitation approach to strengthen Pakistan’s export competitiveness and address gaps in the proposed reform agenda.

BRUSSELS/ISLAMABAD, (Unib Rashid) — A delegation of the Trade Facilitation Network (TFN) participated in the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) validation workshop on the Trade and Logistics Competitiveness Assessment Report for Pakistan’s Export Potential, held in Islamabad on 23 October 2026. Mr. Amer Z Durrani, Advisor ADB presented the report.

The TFN delegation comprised its Founder and Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Anwar, CMILT; Members of the Board of Governors, Mr. Altaf Asghar and Mr. Nadir Mumtaz; and Member IT, Mr. Saud Arshad.

During the workshop, the TFN delegation contributed to discussions on various aspects of the report, identified gaps in the proposed reform framework and presented its institutional perspective on strengthening Pakistan’s trade and logistics competitiveness. TFN advocated moving beyond reforms focused solely on rules, regulations and administrative requirements towards a comprehensive trade-flow facilitation approach that addresses the movement of cargo across agencies, transport modes, logistics facilities and international corridors.

TFN emphasised that the effectiveness of trade facilitation should ultimately be assessed by its impact on the time, cost, reliability and predictability of shipments. It highlighted the importance of institutional coordination, corridor-based governance, digital interoperability, cross-border connectivity and measurable implementation outcomes.

The Network proposed that Pakistan’s reform agenda should connect policy and regulatory improvements with the operational realities experienced by exporters, importers, freight forwarders, transport operators and other logistics service providers. This approach would help ensure that reforms translate into tangible improvements in the movement of goods and the competitiveness of Pakistan’s exports.

The workshop was attended by senior government officials, regulatory authorities, development partners and representatives of the transport, maritime and trade facilitation sectors.

Among those present were Mr. Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance and Railways; Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Ahmad, Chairman, Karachi Port; Mr. Mazhar Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Railways; Mr. Alisher Mahsud, Secretary, Ministry of Communications; Syed Aftab Haider, Chief Executive, Pakistan Single Window; Syed Shakeel Shah, Member Customs (Operations); and Dr. Muhammad Saeed, Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Other participants included Ms. Farzana Noshab, Ms. Sidra Satti and Mr. Rohan from the Asian Development Bank; Mr. Bilal Paracha, Senior Transport Specialist at the World Bank; Mr. Saifullah Janbaz, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Maritime Affairs; Mr. Wajahat Khan, Director General, Ministry of IT; Dr. Saba Anwar, Director, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE); Dr. Shaista, Director at the National Highway Authority; Mr. Muhammad A. Rajpar, Chairman, Pakistan Ship’s Agents Association; and Mr. Adeel Rahman, Logistics Advisor to the National Trade Facilitation Committee.

TFN’s Perspective: From Regulatory Reform to Trade-Flow Facilitation

TFN’s intervention underscored the need for a more integrated approach to trade facilitation—one that views the complete movement of goods as the central unit of analysis rather than examining individual regulatory procedures or institutions in isolation.

The Network believes that Pakistan’s export competitiveness depends not only on improvements in domestic procedures and infrastructure, but also on the coordination of border agencies, transport operators, ports, terminals, digital platforms and neighbouring jurisdictions along the complete trade corridor.

TFN reaffirmed its willingness to contribute its industry experience and cross-border logistics perspective to the development and implementation of practical reforms that improve the efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of Pakistan’s trade flows.

On the sideline meeting TFN’s delegation met with Syed Shakeel Shah, Member Customs (Operations) and Mr. Raziq Zoqi, Vice President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.