Peshawar - Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on E-Commerce, Senator Aun Abbas on Wednesday said that the federal cabinet has approved first-ever E-commerce policy framework to help increase exports and strengthen digital economy as well as become prime source of employment for youth in the country. 

He disclosed that Prime Minister Imran Khan, under his vision of promoting the digital economy, will inaugurate an E-commerce Web-portal in February. He also revealed that first-ever E-commerce virtual university will be set up in the country, which will become live in July 2022. 

Senator Aun Abbas was speaking at an awareness seminar on E-commerce organised by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) here at the Chamber’s House.

Besides, the SCCI vice president Imran Khan, the SCCI vice president, Javed Akhtar, former president Sherbaz Bilour, Ministry of Commerce Joint Secretary Ayesha Humaira, Secretary Industries Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hashmat Ali, SCCI executive members, a number of traders, exporters, importers, presidents of different bazaar and trade unions, officials of relevant departments were also present on the occasion. 

Senator Aun Abbas said that according to rough estimates, domestic E-commerce remained at $4 billion, while Rs60 billion digital trade was done through cross border in the last year. Similarly, he said that approximately $340 billion E-commerce is being carried out across the country. Currently, he said 1.1 to 1.2 million freelancers are working in the country while freelancers share in foreign remittances is about $1.5 billion. 

The SAPM said that the government under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan is taking practical measures toward promotion of E-commerce. For this purpose, he added, efforts are afoot to bring improvement in postal system, value-chain, trace and tracking as well as banking system. He emphasised the simple, speedy and accredited system is essential for promotion of E-commerce. 

Senator Aun Abbas pointed out that there are nine kinds of hurdles and impediments that were impeding promotion of E-commerce and E-businesses. However, he said, the government is taking concrete steps to remove all the hurdles and fix problems at earliest under a holistic mechanism. 

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to introduce such a system that would ensure transportation of shipments or products by sitting at home. 

Pakistan stands at third in E-businesses while India is at first and Bangladesh at second, he informed. He said the special training programmes would be conducted for youth to contribute their share in the economy through using digital methods. 

Speaking on the occasion, SCCI vice president Imran Khan stressed the need for promotion of E-commerce and E-businesses, saying our youth have been blessed with abundant and matchless skills but it is unfortunate that these capabilities are not utilised properly. 

Therefore, he urged the Ministry of Commerce to conduct special capacity building and training workshops to create knowledge among youth about using technology for promotion of business.

 and contribution of their share in development of the national economy. 

The SCCI office-bearers hoped that the seminar would help enlighten the business community, especially start-ups businesses about using the latest methods for promotion of their businesses.