TITLE:
Evaluating the Impact of Custom Procedures on Trade Facilitation in Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Muhmmad Jamal Hussain, Tian Ze, Abdullah Qureshi, Tayyab Hassan Hashmi, Muhammad Asif, Anila Ashraf
KEYWORDS:
Customs Procedures, Trade Facilitation, Trade Costs, Pakistan Single Window (PSW), Competitiveness, SMEs
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.13 No.6,
November
14,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study provides a comprehensive empirical evaluation of the impact of customs procedures on trade facilitation in Pakistan. Despite government initiatives, persistent inefficiencies, including protracted clearance times, complex documentation, and a lack of transparency, continue to inflate trade costs and undermine the competitiveness of Pakistani businesses. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected via a structured questionnaire from 102 Pakistani businessmen, including importers, exporters, manufacturers, and logistics providers. The findings strongly affirm that inefficient and non-transparent customs procedures constitute a significant impediment to trade facilitation. While the introduction of the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is recognized as a positive step toward digitalization, its perceived effectiveness remains moderate, hampered by usability challenges and limited transformative impact on overall efficiency. The research further reveals that the burden of customs inefficiencies is not uniform, disproportionately affecting smaller and newer enterprises. A critical finding underscores those businesses with a stronger understanding of customs regulations experience fewer delays, highlighting the paramount importance of knowledge and capacity building. The study concludes with targeted policy recommendations, urging the government to enhance transparency, simplify regulatory frameworks, invest in technological infrastructure, and prioritize stakeholder training to better integrate Pakistan into global value chains and unlock its full economic potential.