KARACHI: The Narcotics Control Division has notified that all export/import containers put up on ‘hold’ by Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) will first be scanned. It will be followed by intrusive inspection.
The directives have been issued to Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT), Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT), Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) and Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA).
Exporters and terminal operators are of the view that the exercise would yield no results as the scanners installed at terminals were not drug detection scanners, and could only detect explosives and chemicals.
Customs agents said that ANF conducted 100 percent examination and entire consignment was de-stuffed, which not only resulted in additional cost while the time was also wasted resulting in delay in export shipments.