Pakistan will ship first export cargo-bound for United States (US) ports as the first pilot project programme of Integrated Cargo Container Control (IC3) to commence on Monday. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is to inaugurate the country's first IC3 facility at the Port Qasim that would help reduce the scanning cost of its cargoes destined for the US and curb illegal transportation of arms, radioactive materials, and narcotics.
The first Integrated Cargo Container Control programme set up at the Qasim International Container Terminal in the proximity of the Port Qasim.
Sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that by implementing the IC3 programme at the Port Qasim, Pakistan would have an edge over India for having trade security measures in place. The IC3 programme is implemented in 42 countries around the world.
This pilot project at the Port Qasim for scanning of commercial cargo to be operational from April 30 (today). The implementation of the IC3 at the Port Qasim will reduce the cost of country's exports to US.
At present, the export shipment containers bound for US ports are being scanned at Hong Kong, Colombo and Salala causing extra financial burden on local shippers.
The facility of scanning of US-bound containers at the Port Qasim will also save time for completing export orders of US buyers.
Pakistan is expecting further increase in exports to the US in future and the trade security measures to be implemented will help the country safeguard its trade interests.
The US Customs will not screen the cargo for re-examination on arrival at US ports. The arrangements for implementing the IC3 Programme were earlier negotiated and finalised by senior customs officers of both the countries.
The IC3 Programme envisages joint screening of US-bound containerised cargo from Pakistan via live video link by customs authorities of Pakistan and the US.
According to agreement, the government of Pakistan would safeguard its export's interests to US markets by ensuring the security arrangements of cargo containers at Pakistani ports.
The IC3 Programme will serve the purpose of Container Security Initiative (CSI) and Mega Port Initiative (MPI) of the US government to ensure secured cargo supply chain for the US in Pakistan.
The US authorities, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, had proposed its trading partners to comply with the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and Mega Port Initiative (MPI) for its internal security needs.
The implementation of the measures proposed in these two initiatives by the US government would enable Pakistan to have containerised cargo direct access to US ports.
The PQA had provided 10 acres land for IC3 programme, out of which five acres would be occupied for installation of scanning equipment and rest of the land to be reserved for container stacking area.
Earlier, Pakistan and US had signed a Declaration of Principles on enhancing international maritime trade security under a bilateral initiative called the IC3 Programme.
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