Pakistan Post proposed as Amazon’s delivery partner

Govt, however, stresses sellers would have to focus on product quality

ISLAMABAD:

The country has proposed adding Pakistan Post to the list of global e-commerce giant Amazon’s delivery partners for parcels within the country. Pakistan is expected to join Amazon sellers’ list in a week. However, after that Pakistani sellers would have to focus on the quality of their products. The items sold will be refundable in case of any complaint. Ayesha Humaira, the commerce joint secretary, told The Express Tribune that great progress was expected after Eidul Fitr.

“Those who don’t ensure the quality of their products would have their Amazon seller account blocked,” she added. Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Razak Dawood recently announced that Amazon was going to add Pakistan in its sellers list within a few days, opening new opportunities for the country’s youth and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Pakistan is the only South Asian nation which is not included in the list of 102 countries on Amazon’s platform, despite being one of the biggest manufacturing economies in the region. Last year, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ranked Pakistan 116th in the 152-nations B2C E-commerce Index. “We have finally made it; Amazon will be adding Pakistan to its Sellers’ List within a few days,” Dawood tweeted.

READ Pakistan’s inclusion on Amazon lauded

“We have been engaged with Amazon since last year and now it’s happening, he added. “It is a great opportunity for our youth, SMEs and women entrepreneurs… It is an excellent opportunity for our youth, SMEs and women entrepreneurs,” Dawood wrote. The commerce adviser added that Amazon’s listing was an important milestone of the government’s e-commerce policy, which had been achieved through teamwork by many people across the globe.

According to Noman Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Si Global, Amazon has an inventory of about 12 million items across all its categories and services. “The Amazon’s share in the US e-commerce market is 45%, which can be explored in an open competitive environment,” he said. “It is a massive incentive for Pakistani manufacturers,” Ahmed said. Nouman Younas, digital media marketer, added that the Amazon update was not only good news for the business community but freelancers were also delighted.

With the arrival of Amazon in Pakistan, job opportunities in Pakistan will increase and small and big business owners will be able to benefit from it, which is a welcome development, said Muhammad Adeel, e-Commerce and digital media manager. “e-commerce sector will also boom,” he added.