LAHORE: The Customs is an authority or agency which is responsible for collecting tariff and controlling the flow of goods into and out of a country.
These views were expressed by Customs Preventive Deputy Collector Palwasha Syed at the e-commerce Road Show jointly held by TDAP and Alibaba.com at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.
She added that e-commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services, or the transmitting of funds or data, over an electronic network, primarily the Internet. The business transactions occur either as business-to-business, business-to-consumer, consumer-to-consumer or consumer-to-business.
“Goods imported into Pakistan; goods brought from any foreign country to any customs station, and without payment of duty there, transshipped or transported for, or thence carried to, and imported at any other customs-station; and goods brought in bond from one customs station to another,” She explained.
TDAP Director Muhammad Usman Qureshi said that Pakistan has huge potential for trade and industry and e-commerce can play a vital role in enhancing exports volume of the country and earn important foreign exchange.
He said that the authority is aimed at promoting business activities and is always there to help business community to modernize the trade and industry.
He added that launch of e-commerce facilities in collaboration with Alibaba.com is a millstone in initiation of e-commerce in the country.
LCCI Senior Vice President Khwaja Khawar Rasheed said that e-commerce was the need of the hour to facilitate trade and commerce especially exports.
He said that the launch of the e-commerce would help the importers and exporters to facilitate their business, reducing the per unit cost and timing in importing and exporting their goods.
Alibaba.com Country manger Martin Wang said that Pakistan and Chine trade ties are already are invincible and the e-commerce trade facility launched by his company will surely help both the countries to work further for the mutual benefits.
Traders and businessmen a large number of traders and businessmen including Aftab Vohraand other were present on the occasion.