WeBOC or PSW: Which One to Use to File Your Goods Declaration in Pakistan

Short answer: If your goods need any licence, permit or certificate from a regulator, you must file through the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) as a Single Declaration. If no regulator is involved, you may file a goods declaration on WeBOC or on PSW. PSW says WeBOC is still the Customs system behind both.

Many importers and exporters still say "WeBOC" for everything. That is fair, because WeBOC is the Customs system that clears goods. But the way you reach it is changing, and the choice depends on one question: does a regulator need to approve your goods?

WeBOC is the Customs system and PSW is the front door

WeBOC is the Customs Management System built by Pakistan Customs to process import, export and transit declarations. PSW is a wider portal that takes your declaration and sends the parts that concern each regulator to the right office, then passes the Customs part to WeBOC.

PSW describes itself as integrating banks and other government agencies in one place. It says 29 banks and more than 22 other government agencies are connected, with more being added. WeBOC remains the core Customs system and is one of the systems inside the PSW ecosystem.

Regulatory goods must go through PSW

PSW says both systems can take a declaration, but if there is any regulatory requirement, submission through PSW's Single Declaration is mandatory. Without a regulatory requirement, the trader may choose WeBOC or PSW. Licences, permits and certificates are applied for on PSW.

Examples of regulators PSW lists on its site include the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, the Department of Plant Protection, the Animal Quarantine Department and the Pakistan Tobacco Board. If your goods fall under one of them, plan for PSW.

Ask whether a regulator needs to approve your goods

The simplest test is whether the goods need an approval before release. Medicines, plants, animals, tobacco and similar goods usually do. Plain commercial goods may not. Your clearing agent can confirm the regulatory requirement from the tariff heading before you book the shipment.

1. Find the PCT heading for your goods on the customs tariff.
2. Ask your clearing agent whether any regulator's permit applies.
3. If yes, subscribe to PSW and apply for the permit there first.
4. If no, choose WeBOC or PSW and file the declaration.
5. Keep the permit, invoice and declaration consistent in value and description.

This list is our own summary of PSW's rule, not a PSW checklist. Rules for particular goods can be stricter than the general rule.

Filing an import Single Declaration on PSW

PSW lists eight steps for a Single Declaration for imports. You need a PSW subscription and a banking profile integrated with PSW. The portal then creates a payment slip ID, called a PSID, when you submit. Pay duties through that PSID.

1. Log in, hover over Single Declaration, and choose Import then Create Declaration.
2. Choose the consignment category and declaration type. Fields vary by collectorate and mode.
3. Save the declaration and proceed.
4. Add the financial instrument number.
5. Add the commodity details.
6. Upload the documents and select the type for each.
7. Review, validate and proceed.
8. Open Payment Procedures, check the amounts and choose Save and Submit to get the PSID.

Export filing follows a similar path, with the NTN fetched automatically from your profile. Our guide to registering as an exporter on WeBOC and TDAP covers the registration first. The bank side is explained in how to link your bank profile on PSW.

What stays the same on WeBOC

PSW says all the functions a trader has in WeBOC are also available in PSW, so you do not have to use both. WeBOC continues for Customs processing. If you file late or wrongly, penalties still apply, as set out in customs late filing penalties.

If your cargo is stuck with a penalty, read the guide on how to contest an overstayed cargo penalty. Sellers who ship small parcels face different duty rules, covered in the note on courier parcel customs duty.

Common questions about WeBOC and PSW

Is PSW replacing WeBOC?

PSW says it integrates with WeBOC. WeBOC remains the core Customs system, while PSW is the main interface for end to end trade steps such as permits.

Do I still need WeBOC if I am on PSW?

No. PSW says the functions traders use in WeBOC are available in PSW as well.

What is the difference between a GD and an SD?

A GD is the goods declaration filed on WeBOC. An SD is the Single Declaration filed on PSW, which also routes regulatory approvals.

Where do I apply for a permit or certificate?

On PSW. PSW says it should be used to apply for licences, permits, certificates and other documents from regulators.

Can I file before the cargo arrives?

PSW says pre-arrival filing and clearance are enabled on PSW, while most WeBOC declarations are filed after arrival.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 11 October 2026. We read the PSW pages "Everything You Need to Know: WEBOC and PSW", "Single Declaration - Imports" and "Single Declaration - Exports" on psw.gov.pk. We did not log in to either system or compare the screens. The page does not say when each regulator joined PSW, so confirm your goods with a clearing agent.