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Pakistan allows US to install its own scanners
Umar Cheema
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has allowed the US government to install its own scanners at various exit points of the country for thorough scrutiny of all sort of consignments dispatched to the United States, The Post has learnt on authority.
The US has taken the decision fearing that the present scanners are not capable enough for rigorous scrutiny. Official sources said the US government had expressed dissatisfaction over the scanning procedure being carried out by Pakistani officials and refused the landing of these consignments in the US until they are gone through their own scanners here.
After denying direct flight operations to New York from Karachi and Islamabad following its serious security reservations, the US has now pushed the government to allow it the installation of scanners.
A memorandum of understanding has recently been signed between Pakistan and the United States to undertake the business. In the first phase, the US would install its scanners at East Whirf and West Whirf located at Port Bin Qasim. These scanners would exclusively be meant for consignments being sent to the US. And the scanners already in use would scan the consignments meant for other countries.
As the US is providing most of the funds to Pakistan for curbing the smuggling of narcotics and equipment of security forces for fight against terrorism, it feels more ‘privileged’ in extending any wish list for strict compliance.
During the last two financial years of 2004-05 and 2005-06, the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) of the US embassy in Pakistan provided Rs 100.846 million to the Narcotics Control Ministry to curb poppy cultivation and choke various routes of narcotics smuggling.
Another amount of Rs 172.482 million was given by NAS during the above-said financial years for a number of development projects in Khyber Agency, Mohmand Agency and Bajaur Agency.
Afghanistan is a main producer of poppy and opium with average 4,000 metric tonnes of opium is produced annually that constitute 87 percent of the whole world. Its drug barons traffic the narcotics into consumer markets of the United States and other European countries through Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian States.
Not only the US and EU member states are suffering from this menace, the domestic consumption has largely been increased in Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries.
Iran has been ranked first in terms of domestic consumption with the use of 72 metric tonnes annually. Pakistan follows it with the annual drug consumption of 30 metric tonnes, then Central Asian States and Russia with 10 metric tonnes each. Interestingly, Afghanistan, which is the main source of drug supply, has six metric tonnes annual consumption, according a document available with The Post.
