Category Archives: news story

Launched earlier this year, the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is a digital portal which allows importers and exporters to submit customs declarations, permits and documents required by governmental departments which administer non customs regulations. Previously, filings with such departments had to be undertaken manually and required physical visits to their offices. PSW is a revolutionary project that makes import and export of goods into and out of Pakistan faster, easier and cheaper by providing a single standardised online form on which information relevant to customs declarations and up to 74 government departments, whose involvement depends on the nature of goods sought to be imported or exported, may be submitted. These include the State Bank of Pakistan, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Department of Plant Protection, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, Animal Quarantine Department and Federal Seed and Certification Department.

RIAA Barker Gillette (Pakistan) was engaged by International Finance Corporation – a sister organisation of the World Bank – to act as the legal and regulatory expert to undertake the preparatory work for the establishment and operation of the PSW – a comprehensive regulatory system to speed up the flow of goods into  and out of Pakistan. Other members of the consortium included Sovereign Border Solutions and Grant Thornton.

Our team led by Mazhar Bangash, Partner – Pakistan, and Ehsan Ejaz, Senior Associate, conducted a legal gap analysis comparing the existing trade related legal and regulatory framework of Pakistan with internationally recommended best practices. Furthermore, we reviewed national laws as well as the governing statutes/regulations of individual stakeholders to suggest appropriate amendments and recommendations on the next steps to be taken at national level to fill the identified gaps and drafting of new legislation underpinning the implementation and maintenance of PSW.

For further detail on PSW and how it operates, please visit their website at www.psw.gov.pk.

Chambers and Partners have ranked RIAA Barker Gillette and its lawyers as front-runners in their practice areas in the 2022 editions of the Chambers Global Guide and the Chambers Asia Pacific Guide.

The Chambers Global Guide ranks the top lawyers and law firms in over  200 jurisdictions worldwide.  The Firm’s profile for the Chambers Global Guide 2022 may be accessed through the following link: Chambers Global Guide – RIAA Barker Gillette. The Firm has been ranked as a “Band 1” law firm for its Corporate and Commercial practice and its expertise in Projects, Infrastructure and Energy. Moreover, our partners Bilal Shaukat and Hasnain Naqvee have been recognized as leading lawyers for their contributions in the said practice areas.

The Chambers Asia Pacific Guide The Chambers Asia-Pacific guide and rankings provide the most in-depth and reliable recommendations on the best law firms and lawyers working across the legal market in Asia-Pacific. The Firm’s profile for the Chambers Asia Pacific Guide 2022 may be accessed through the following link: Chambers Asia Pacific Guide – RIAA Barker Gillette. The Firm has been ranked as a “Band 1” law firm for its Corporate and Commercial practice and its expertise in Projects, Infrastructure and Energy. The Firm has also been ranked as a “Band 2” law firm for its Banking and Finance and Dispute Resolution practice. Moreover, our partners Bilal Shaukat and Hasnain Naqvee have been recognized as leading lawyers for their contributions in the said practice areas.

The above rankings are, inter alia, based on in-depth interviews with our partners and clients. Upon being interviewed by the Chambers researchers, a client stated, “RIAA are responsive, professional and polite in explaining their advice, well researched in their opinions, and reliable in their response time. Apart from legal advice, they also share commercial and operational consequences of the options presented in their advice. We are very happy with their support and with the performance of their partners and associates.”

We are delighted to consistently receive recognition from leading legal directories, particularly based on high praise from our clients that value our ability to provide commercially sound legal solutions. We endeavour to ensure that the Firm maintains its reputation of providing high-quality service to its clients across distinct practice areas and industry sectors.

RIAA Barker Gillette (Pakistan) ranked in Tier 1 for Banking & Finance, Dispute Resolution and Projects & Energy by leading international directory, The Legal 500:

https://www.legal500.com/firms/34200-riaa-barker-gillette/32005-karachi-pakistan/

RIAA Barker Gillette (Pakistan) maintains prestigious top ranking across various practice areas in Chambers and Partners, a leading international directory, in Chambers Global Guide 2020 and Chambers Asia Pacific 2020:

https://chambers.com/law-firm/riaa-barker-gillette-asia-pacific-8:3042

We congratulate our partner Mr Mazhar Bangash, Head of RIAA Barker Gillette’s Trade Law Department, on his appointment as an arbitrator by the Dispute Settlement Body, World Trade Organization, in a trade dispute between the USA and South Korea. In addition to his latest appointment, Mr Bangash has also been previously appointed as a panellist by the World Trade Organization.

RIAA Barker Gillette provides expert legal services in the area of international and local trade remedy laws, including anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures. The Firm provides unparalleled technical solutions through its in-depth research and analysis, understanding of the underlying laws and rules with a forward-looking perspective.

RIAA Barker Gillette is an alliance of industry-focused law firms in the UK, Middle East and Asia. RIAA Barker Gillette Alliance members are consistently ranked in Band 1 and Tier 1 by prominent international legal directories.

The SECP has issued a notification for a proposed amendment to Regulation 4 of the Securities Brokers (Licensing and Operations) Regulations, 2016 in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 169 of the Securities Act, 2015.

The FBR has issued a notification for including a new Chapter in the Income Tax Rules, 2002 in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 237 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.