Pakistan and United States on Saturday signed a declaration on enhancing international maritime trade security under a bilateral initiative called "Integrated Cargo/Container Control (IC3) Programme".
The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) Chairman, M Abdullah Yusuf and US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C Croker inked the declaration of principles at CBR Headquarters.
Sources said that the programme envisages joint screening of US-bound containerised cargo from Pakistan via live video link by Pakistan and US customs officials. Resultantly, the screened cargo will not be re-examined by US Customs on arrival at US ports.
The arrangements for implementing the 'IC3 Programme' had been negotiated earlier and were finalised by senior customs officers of both countries.
Sources said that the programme had been offered by US Customs and Border Protection Department, under International Maritime Trade Security Plan.
Pakistan has been offered partnership under the IC3 programme on thorough assessment of its eligibility to meet various operational standards including advanced level of automation in handling of imports and exports by customs, International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) certification of all Pakistani sea ports.
Under the programme, the US-bound cargo containers would be first screened by customs officials through scanners and sensors at Port Qasim with potential extension of this facility to other sea ports and terminals in Karachi in due course of time. The screening results would be viewed simultaneously in Pakistan and US via live video link.
The purpose of the programme is to facilitate the flow of genuine commercial cargo from important countries to US markets through their inspection at the port of shipment, instead of at the port of landing and to forestall clandestine movement of dangerous cargo, sources added.
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