KARACHI – A digital framework has been developed for overhauling Pakistan’s barter trade mechanism with countries such as Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Galaxefi Solutions, a private tech firm specialising in digital freight workflows, has developed a national-level system called BARTMAS, Barter Trade Management System. The initiative seeks to bring transparency, efficiency, and coordination to barter-based transactions, a necessity for Pakistan given its limited banking relations with several trading partners due to sanctions and geopolitical constraints.
Founder and CEO of Galaxefi, Asif Pervez, said the system is designed to move the country away from outdated manual processes that have made barter trade vulnerable to inefficiencies, mismanagement, and policy blind spots.
BARTMAS aims to integrate all key national institutions through digital APIs, including the Pakistan Single Window (PSW), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Ministry of Commerce (MoC), National Logistics Cell (NLC), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and other authorities. The proposed digital infrastructure will enable end-to-end visibility of the barter journey from the initiation of a barter request and customs clearance to escrow fund management and bonded warehousing, ensuring that each step is auditable and centrally traceable.
The process begins with barter requests initiated through a secure online dashboard, followed by real-time inventory checks to prevent domestic shortages. Contracts would be verified in coordination with regional chambers of commerce, such as the Quetta and Zahidan Chambers. Goods declarations would be filed digitally through PSW using a dedicated barter trade route. Licensed banks would manage escrow services under the supervision of the SBP, while cargo movement would be handled by the NLC under TIR protocols, with the entire logistics chain sealed and monitored for security.
The digital framework has already been presented to relevant trade and institutional bodies, with discussions underway regarding potential adoption. Galaxefi is also working in coordination with PSW and the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) to align its technology with national logistics and customs frameworks.
