PSW Digitalizes Air Cargo Charges in Move to Speed Up Pakistan Imports
New electronic system at Karachi airport replaces paper-based CTC collection, cutting bank visits, queues and manual verification for importers.
PSW and PAA introduce digital Cargo Throughput Charge collection for air imports at Karachi airport.
KARACHI, August 27, 2026: Pakistan has taken another step towards digitalising cross-border trade as the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) signed an MoU to digitise Cargo Throughput Charge (CTC) collection for air imports.
The new system will allow importers and clearing agents to pay CTC electronically through the PSW platform. It will replace the previous paper-based process with an integrated digital workflow.
The digital CTC collection system will launch at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, on August 27, 2026. Authorities plan to extend it to other Air Freight Units across Pakistan during the next phase.
Paperwork and Airport Queues Set to End
Previously, importers and clearing agents had to submit transport documents physically at PAA Air Freight Unit booths.
Officials then verified the documents manually before traders made payments at authorised bank branches.
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The process required physical paperwork, cash payments and multiple visits. It also created queues at airport facilities and made collection monitoring more dependent on manual records.
The new system will allow traders to complete the process through the PSW platform.
Importers can pay CTC electronically alongside other duties and consignment-related charges. The system will also automate document verification.
Real-Time Monitoring for PAA
The digital framework will give PAA a dedicated interface to monitor CTC collections in real time.
Officials will be able to view payments against individual consignments. This will improve financial monitoring and make reconciliation more transparent.
The system is expected to reduce administrative work while giving businesses a faster way to complete cargo-related payments.
PSW CEO Syed Aftab Haider described the digitalisation of Cargo Throughput Charges as an important development for Pakistan’s air cargo sector.
He said replacing paper verification and physical bank visits with integrated digital payments would reduce the time and cost of doing business.
The system will also improve transparency, speed and convenience for the trade community.
Karachi Launch to Lead National Rollout
The initiative will begin at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi before expanding to other Air Freight Units.
PSW and PAA said the collaboration forms part of wider efforts to simplify cross-border trade and rationalise procedures.
The move is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s digital trade infrastructure and make air import processes more efficient for businesses.
By bringing CTC payments, document verification and monitoring into a single digital framework, the two organisations aim to reduce paperwork and improve the overall cargo clearance experience.
