The LCCI Vice President Shahzad Ali Malik has demanded of the Federal Commerce Ministry and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to help exporters implement Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), the two perquisites enforced by USA for international trade.
Addressing a briefing session with Chief Technical Advisor of United Nation Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD), the LCCI Vice President said that the United States had started implementation of CSI and C-TPAT on their international trading partners that would leave majority of Pakistani exporters unqualified and, hence, they may loose US market.
He said that the government should come forward to help attain C-TPAT certification.
The LCCI Vice President said that immediate steps should be taken to ensure that the port authorities undertake their respective security assessment with a view to development of Port Facility Security Plans well before July 2004 deadline.
Malik said that the World Custom Organisation (WCO) should be requested to bring together the Customs administrations in Europe and North America with Customs administration in Pakistan to explore collaborative initiatives under WCO Data Model to introduce mutually agreed facilitation measures, including designation of authorised traders whose containerised shipments from Pakistan can enjoy simplified cargo movement and clearance procedures.
Earlier, UNCTAD Advisor Will Keenan said that the international community has determined a mandatory security assurance measures that warrant urgent action in Pakistan, and the first is Container Security Initiative (CSI).
The second is International Ship & Post Security code under the auspices of International Maritime Organisation (ISPS code).
There is a third area, which may also be addressed ie Custom-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
Apart from ISPS coding, Ship Security exporters are required to sign a non-contractual voluntary agreement C-TPAT with World Customs Organisation, he added.