The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and Pakistan Single Window (PSW) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on capacity building, executive education and research aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s trade facilitation framework.
According to a report today, the agreement was signed at the Pakistan Single Window headquarters in Islamabad by PSW Chief Executive Officer Aftab Haider and LUMS Provost Dr. Tariq Jadoon in the presence of senior representatives from both organisations. LUMS was also represented by Dr. Muhammad Adeel Zaffar, Dean of the Suleman Dawood School of Business, and Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Syed Muhammad Hasan.
Under the partnership, the two institutions will jointly support capacity-building initiatives under the Federal Board of Revenue’s Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Programme for probationary Assistant Collectors of Customs. The collaboration will focus on strengthening professional expertise in cross-border trade, digital trade facilitation, logistics, data governance and other areas aligned with PSW’s mandate.
The MoU also provides for the joint development and delivery of executive education programmes, technical training courses, seminars and other professional development initiatives. In addition, both organisations will participate in each other’s conferences, workshops, exhibitions and policy dialogues to promote knowledge exchange and institutional cooperation.
The agreement further establishes a framework for collaborative research, including policy papers, analytical studies and other knowledge products covering digital trade, customs systems, trade facilitation, logistics and data governance. The partners said the research would support evidence-based policymaking, contribute to academic scholarship and generate practical insights for stakeholders involved in Pakistan’s trade ecosystem, including participants in the customs training programme.
LUMS Provost Dr. Tariq Jadoon said the partnership combined academic excellence with practical expertise to expand executive education and applied research addressing national priorities. He added that the collaboration would help strengthen Pakistan’s trade and customs landscape through meaningful learning opportunities.
PSW Chief Executive Officer Aftab Haider said building a modern and efficient trade ecosystem required sustained investment in human capital and knowledge. He added that the collaboration reflected PSW’s commitment to enhancing institutional capacity, encouraging innovation and developing future professionals in customs administration and trade facilitation.
The two organisations said the agreement reflected their shared commitment to promoting professional excellence, research-driven policymaking and the modernisation of Pakistan’s cross-border trade environment through collaborative learning and institutional engagement.