Pakistan’s first ever E Commerce Policy finalised by PTI government
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ISLAMABAD - The federal government has finalized E-commerce policy framework to create an enabling environment for holistic growth of e-commerce across all sectors of the country, with a special focus on development and promotion of SMEs to transform Pakistan into a significant player in the regional and global digital economy.
According to the draft policy framework prepared by the Commerce Ministry, its main goal is to increase e-commerce industry’s growth to make it one of the key drivers of Pakistan’s economy.
The second goal is to streamline regulatory framework for e-commerce businesses in Pakistan, to contribute achieving higher export growth through enhanced activities from e-commerce platforms, to promote small e-businesses and create employment opportunities through digital connectivity for empowering youth, especially in remote areas.
In the first quarter of the financial year 2017-18, the number of registered e-commerce merchants was 496 which reached 1,094 by year-end and was around 1,242 by the first quarter of 2018-19. E-commerce transactions processed by these merchants are also increasing proportionately.
Pakistan’s e-commerce industry is emerging rapidly and has the potential to strengthen the country’s economy by creating more job opportunities, linking remote areas to the mainstream, development of small and medium enterprises and finally enhancing exports through online platforms. For this, it is crucial to develop a policy framework for consumer protection, the role of the financial sector in optimizing its growth and its revenue-generating potential in the medium and long run.
