Immediate Clearance Group (ICG) of Pakistan Customs located at Air Freight Unit, Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi was established on 12th Aught, 1997. The main aims of formation of ICG facility was to increase the efficiency of workforce and reduce the time required for clearance of such good that need clearance within hours for instance perishable goods, diplomatic cargo of embassies and consulates and valuable courier consignments. ICG works 24x7 and 365 days an year.

The section is headed by the Deputy/ Assistant Collector level officer of customs and under him three shifts of Assessment and Examination staff works 24x7 in day time, evening time and night time. The primary purpose of the I.C.G formation is to ensure clearance of those items that are categorised to be cleared through ICG within 04 hours of the arrival of airplane.

The only following goods are categorized to be cleared through ICG:

-- Perishable medicines such as Diagnostic Kits and Vaccines;

-- Diplomatic cargo and mail of various consulates;

-- Oil drilling companies machinery parts and equipments;

-- Foods requiring immediate refrigeration ie fresh meat, fresh vegetable, fresh fruits, dairy products and other foodstuff etc;

-- Gold & Silver;

-- Betel Leaves;

-- Foreign news papers and Magazines;

-- Human Dead Body;

-- Human Body Parts;

-- Courier Mail, including export orders and non-commercial samples;

-- Live Animals & Birds;

-- Relief Goods for rehabilitation duly allowed by relief commissioner/Authorities such as NDMA/PDMA etc;

-- Defence cargo;

IMMEDIATE CLEARANCE GROUP FLOOD RELIEF ACTIVITIES AND RAIN RELIEF ACTIVITIES.

The worst floods in its history in 2010 and excessive precipitation in 2011 hit Pakistan. Keeping in view the disastrous natural calamities several friendly countries of Pakistan and scores of donor agencies donated relief goods throughout the world for the affected people. The major chunk of these relief goods were transported into Pakistan through air and cleared through ICG, AFU, Karachi. Taking the task as national duty the officers and staff of ICG worked day and night continuously and cleared the flood and rain related relief goods within few hours of its arrival and handed over these goods to government and Non-government Organisation to be distributed to effected people of Pakistan. Total numbers of around 1150 consignments, having total weight of approximately 6.3 million metric tons were cleared through ICG within hours of its arrival at Airport.

Acknowledging the extraneous efforts and contributions towards flood and rain relief activities, Iranian and Turkish embassies in Pakistan presented special shields and certificates to the ICG officers and staff. Immediate Clearance Group was established to maximise the efficiency of work and minimise the time required for clearance of goods. The section is working whole-heartedly to facilitate trade and commerce in Pakistan and showing its full commitment to make itself more efficient, speedy, hassle-free and transparent clearance corridor at Karachi Airport.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012