Customs integrates with HK Customs’ ValidAP platform

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs has achieved a significant milestone in cross-border digital trade, becoming the first Customs administration to successfully integrate with ValidAP, the blockchain-based cross-validation platform developed and hosted by Hong Kong Customs. The integration has been operationalized through Pakistan Single Window (PSW), pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Pakistan Customs and the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong on May 18, 2026. The Integration underscores the strong and growing cooperation between Pakistan Customs and Hong Kong Customs in advancing secure digital trade and trade facilitation. ValidAP provides a secure and efficient mechanism for participating Customs and regulatory authorities to verify the authenticity and integrity of electronic trade documents issued through PSW, including Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) certificates and export permits, without requiring transmission of the underlying documents or their data. The platform employs cryptographic hash-based verification to identify any alteration to a document registered on the platform, thereby strengthening safeguards against document tampering and forgery. The integration will also reduce reliance on paper-based and manual verification processes, facilitate faster validation of trade documents and support more efficient clearance of consignments. By enabling trusted digital verification at source, the initiative is expected to contribute to reduce clearance and cargo dwell times, while imposing no additional cost on traders. The successful operationalization of ValidAP represents an important advancement in Pakistan Customs’ drive towards secure, trusted and technology-enabled cross-border trade. It further strengthens Customs and trade cooperation between Pakistan and Hong Kong and supports Pakistan’s broader objective of developing trusted digital trade corridors through the secure, interoperable and verifiable exchange of trade information. The initiative is also aligned with the World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia/Pacific Region’s Smart Customs initiative, reflecting Pakistan Customs’ commitment to leveraging digital technologies and international cooperation to enhance the security, efficiency and transparency of cross-border trade processes. Pakistan Customs acknowledges the important technical role of Pakistan Single Window in successfully operationalizing the ValidAP integration. The initiative reflects the continued collaboration between Pakistan Customs and PSW in advancing trade digitalization and delivering secure, interoperable and technology-enabled solutions for Pakistan’s cross-border trade. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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