ISLAMABAD: To support ease of doing business and to facilitate licensed domestic and global technology companies in special technology zones (STZs), Systems Limited and Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) have signed a contract for development and implementation of the one window portal system.
Talking to WealthPK, the STZA Chairman Aamir Hashmi said the one window portal will be a digital system to facilitate the STZA licensed companies.
“This facility will enable companies to be digitally onboard, and will connect them to various government and regulatory agencies. This will also help promote transparency, and improve ease of doing business,” he said.
Aamir Hashmi said that the one window portal aims to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan.
“International investors are required to be part of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), income tax and other tax exemption policies. The STZA will facilitate investors to connect with other government entities (OGEs) which are execution authorities,” he said.
“The idea behind this step is to connect all stakeholders seamlessly on one window. The STZA has followed the PPRA (Public Procurement Regulatory Authority) rules, and after the bidding process among different firms, the Systems Limited secured the deal,” said the STZA chairman.
Aamir Hashmi explained that the one-window facility proceeds the case in three phases. In the first phase, the implementation of internal application process will be carried out.
“We are going to integrate the one window with the FBR, SECP, MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) in the second phase. In the third phase, we refer the case to provincial entities like Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA),” he said.
Aamir Hashmi said the tagline of one window is the online paperless onboarding process for all investors and stakeholders.
“We will provide the applicants’ documents to all the relevant government organizations, and curtail the conventional replication process of documents,” Aamir Hashmi said.
The STZA chairman stated that without a physical movement and repetitional process of documents, the applicant will get all the services from the SECP and FBR with a single application. He said the one window portal is really useful for international investors as they can apply in Pakistan by simply logging-in online.
“The STZA will look after the matters on behalf of international investors at each phase if there is any problem in the process. We will also provide the same facilities to local investors,” the STZA chairman said.
The STZA is as an autonomous body under the Cabinet Division. It provides legislative and institutional support for the development of Pakistan’s technology sector. The STZA holds an innovative and futuristic mandate to set up STZs across the country.
