This was stated by Export Collector Javed Qazi, who is a member of the committee and making arrangements for scanning of the export cargo under International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
The Committee, headed by Additional Secretary, Communications, K.B. Rind, held meetings at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Port Qasim (PQ) to select sites for the scanners, which would be installed by the National Logistic Cell (NLC).
A site has been selected at the PQ, while the KPT has yet to choose a venue amongst a couple of sites for putting scanners for screening of the export containers.
The Collector told Business Recorder that the scanning of the export containers would eliminate the requirement for a hundred percent examination, which would be carried out on selective or risk management basis.
There are plans to install six scanners at the KPT and two at Port Qasim for both import and export cargo. Three scanners would be installed at selected places at Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT), West Wharf and East Wharf for the export and three others for the imports.
At Port Qasim, two scanners would be installed at Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) for the export and the import.
Sources in the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) confirmed on Monday that it had offered a site near Gate No. 2 for putting the scanners. However, it had objected to a land request, made by the QICT to provide 10 acres of land near the scanners for stalking and movement of the containers.
The proposal for land near the scanners was opposed by the PQA Traffic Department, arguing that the assembly of large number of containers in the Customs bonded area inside the port would cause congestion in the port.
It said that a land could be acquired at cargo village for preparing containers for scanning and putting security seal on the cargo boxes before loading them on to the vessels.