Pakistan imports boost demand for freight forwarding in Bangladesh
Demand for logistics support and freight-forwarding services has increased in Bangladesh amid a rise in imports from Pakistan, according to industry stakeholders.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider told The Shuttle Times that bilateral business activity had increased by around 30 percent over the past years.
According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh’s imports from Pakistan have shown growth in several key categories, particularly raw materials, textile inputs and essential commodities.
Agricultural imports have also increased, with yellow maize registering 149.7 percent growth and sugar rising 64 percent, according to the data.
The textile supply chain remains a major component of Bangladesh-Pakistan trade. Imports of denim fabric stood at around $295 million, while cotton yarn imports increased by 74.6 percent, the data showed.
At the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) level, garments for women and children account for around 70 percent of the products imported by some traders, while jewellery and beauty products account for 20 percent and sports goods for 10 percent, according to Mohammad Zakir, owner of Tawakkal Enterprise.
He said Bangladesh has a large number of SME importers who purchase relatively small quantities of products from Pakistan and therefore require specialised import and logistics support.
“Small-scale importers often face difficulties in bringing limited quantities of products through formal import channels,” Zakir said.
He said some traders may resort to informal channels or carrying goods as luggage because of the difficulties involved, which can create risks for businesses and result in revenue losses for the government.
Freight forwarders and logistics companies can play an important role in facilitating such imports through formal channels, he added.
Zakir said Tawakkal Enterprise, a Bangladesh-based importer and sourcing service provider, has launched a business-to-business sourcing and door-to-door import service aimed at connecting Bangladeshi businesses with manufacturers and suppliers in Pakistan.
The company said its services include product sourcing, supplier identification, quality checks, price negotiation, documentation assistance, customs clearance and delivery to Dhaka.
Tawakkal Enterprise sources products from major commercial centres in Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Multan, Gujranwala and Hyderabad, according to the company.
It handles imports through both air and sea cargo and offers door-to-door delivery for businesses that face difficulties in identifying suppliers or managing the import process.
Its product portfolio includes Pakistani clothing and fashion items, jewellery, children's wear, sandals, men's Panjabi and Kabli dresses, home textiles, bags, perfumes and attar, mehndi, sports goods, machinery parts and surgical products.
The company also imports surgical, dental and hospital equipment and provides customised sourcing services based on clients' requirements.
Its sourcing support includes factory and wholesale-market visits, product quality checks and price negotiations with suppliers. It also provides assistance with import documentation and customs clearance.
The service is aimed at retailers, wholesalers and online businesses seeking to source products directly from Pakistan, the company said.
Tawakkal Enterprise operates from Shop No 737 on the seventh floor of Eastern Mollika Shopping Complex on Elephant Road in Dhaka.
The company said it aims to provide an end-to-end sourcing and import solution for businesses involved in Pakistan-Bangladesh trade.
Businesses can contact Tawakkal Enterprise by phone or WhatsApp at +8801974797008 for product catalogues and wholesale price information.
