Banned chemicals identification: 10,150 test kits provided to customs collectorates

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has distributed 10,150 test kits among customs collectorates for identification of chemicals used for manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and prevention of such chemicals' entry in Pakistan. Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that each of the Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation (Customs), Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Port Qasim, MCC (Appraisement-East), Karachi, MCC (Appraisement-West), Karachi, and MCC (Appraisement), Lahore have got highest number of 1050 kits.
The US is providing hand held laboratory to identify different chemicals at ports, international airports and all other entry as well as exit points of any city. By having equipment such as testing kits, the FBR will be able to apprehend smuggling at all entry and exit points, sources added. According to the FBR's instructions issued to the field formations, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), Embassy of USA, Islamabad has provided 10150 test kits for identification of chemical precursors, viz nitrates, ammonium nitrate, chlorates, etc used for manufacturing IEDs, under the WCO's "Program Global Shield" (PGS).
The board has approved allocation of these test kits as under: Directorate General (I&I-Customs), proposed allocation 1050 kits; MCC (Preventive), Karachi, 700 kits; MCC (Preventive), Lahore, 350 kits; MCC Gilgit-Baltistan, 350 kits; MCC Islamabad, 350 kits; MCC Hyderabad, 350 kits; MCC Gwadar, 350 kits; MCC Multan, 350 kits; MCC Peshawar, 700 kits; MCC Sialkot, 350 kits; MCC Faisalabad, 350 kits; MCC Port Qasim, 1050 kits; MCC (Appraisement-East), Karachi, 1050 kits; MCC (Appraisement-West), Karachi, 1050 kits; MCC (Appraisement), Lahore, 1050 kits and proposed allocation for MCC, Quetta is 700 kits.
Collectors of Customs have been requested to take delivery of the test kits from Collector, MCC Islamabad, under proper receipt. The training with regard to use of these test kits will be provided by the HIS officials, as per the schedule to be communicated later, the FBR added. The United States had provided equipment to the FBR to prevent the entry of chemicals intended to be used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Under the initiative of Global Shield, US has now handed over crucial equipment to put in place an effective enforcement at all entry and exit points of the country through Customs.
The EUV project will allow Pakistan Customs, a wing of the FBR to safely facilitate the entry of dual-use chemicals being imported for legitimate purposes, while investigating and preventing the entry of chemicals intended for use in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Pakistan Customs Service's End Use Verification (EUV) project consists of 80 Pakistani teams that will conduct verification checks countrywide.
The EUV project has already garnered attention outside Pakistan and Pakistan Customs has been recognised as a trend-setter in preventing the illicit movement of dual-use chemicals that help in building IEDs. The World Customs Organisation has adopted the EUV project as the model to be replicated by customs administrations around the world. The EUV project demonstrates how much can be achieved as a result of partnerships based on respect and the sense of a shared mission in this case, between Pakistan Customs and United States HSI to keep citizens from Pakistan and other countries safer by preventing the illicit movement of dangerous chemicals.