Pakistan's e-commerce policy to focus on SMEs

Ministry official says Pakistan’s businesses have great potential to grow through digital sales

ISLAMABAD: The e-commerce policy of Pakistan will focus on the development and promotion of SMEs for making Pakistan a significant player of the regional and global digital economy, said Joint Secretary (WTO) at the Ministry of Commerce Aisha Humera Moriani.

While addressing a seminar on the e-commerce policy of Pakistan, organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce and Textiles, she said, “E-commerce sales in Pakistan were over Rs20.7 billion, which grew by 93.7% in 2018 reaching Rs40.1 billion, which show that Pakistan’s businesses have great potential to grow through digital sales.”

She said that such a policy will contribute towards achieving higher exports through enhanced activities from e-platforms, promote small e-businesses and create employment opportunities through digital connectivity for empowering the youth, especially in remote areas.

She emphasised that SMEs should use e-commerce platforms to connect with online markets across the globe in order to promote trade.

Also speaking on the occasion, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Director Sharoon Rasheed highlighted the role of the central bank in promoting e-commerce. He said the SBP would speed up its work on a nationwide micropayment gateway and will further facilitate accessibility to international payment gateways.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2019.

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