The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has expressed satisfaction over the installation of scanner by National Logistic Cell (NLC) at the Port Qasim (PQ). Chairman CBR Abdullah Yusuf recently visited the newly installed scanner machine by NLC at Port Qasim, which has been installed in the backdrop of American Home Security Initiative. The scanner is not only first of its kind in Pakistan but it is first in the region. Chairman CBR, during his visit has shown his complete satisfaction on commissioning of the facility.
Sources said on Friday that the installation of scanners at Port Qasim will help to boost our vigil against trafficking of illegal drugs and weapons, which badly hurt the national economy and undermine the moral and social fabric of the society.
It is felt that commissioning electronic scanners in trade and tariff processing will authenticate resolve and commitment to honour the international treaties in the global fight against international terrorism. Pakistan has taken a lead in the third world countries to install such state-of-the-art equipment at Karachi.
The prelude to the WTO accord coming into currency, export bound cargo will need to be inspected through radiation scans to assure its authenticity and correctness of nature of contents.
Countries world over have therefore switched to the system of electronic scans to prepare manifests for exports as well as levy customs on the in/out bound cargo. To increase the awareness in this regard, a meeting was held at Geneva under UNCTAD, in which the intent of Pakistani government was reflected to install this equipment for the export/import activity through NLC in the country.
The government has made NLC responsible to install that equipment at key locations. NLC therefore conducted an exhaustive research on the subject and contacted scanning equipment manufacturers world-wide.
The research was guided by terms of references such as high efficiency with low maintenance cost, be user-friendly, simple to operate, easy to maintain, good backup and spares supply, strategically located, optimum utilisation of allied/support services, designed for extreme weather conditions, flexibility to shift, rugged and robust and environment-friendly.
The scanning system in Pakistan is still at its fancy and embryonic stage, which at present is being put under trial without any legal and financial implications. Customs staff nominated by collector customs Karachi is undergoing on job training.
Since the facility is highly advanced and first time being introduced in the country, numerous difficulties, and irritants would be encountered during the initial stage. Nevertheless since resolve to make this venture a success always there, it is hoped that all the irritants will be overcome as and when these are surfaced.