US to deploy inspectors at Pakistani ports

Peshawar, Pakistan, Nov 3 (UNI) The United States will soon deploy inspectors at Pakistani ports and airports to monitor passengers and cargo ships in a bid to prevent terrorist attacks on the country in future.

'The Daily Times' quoted a customs clearing agent as saying that Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) officials conveyed the new US decison during a briefing about new measures relating to shipments from Pakistan to that country.

"We have been briefed about what procedure the customs clearing agents need to follow while exporting goods to the US," the agent said.

US President George W Bush has approved deployment of American inspectors at designated ports and airports in a number of countries including Pakistan to prevent terrorists from using ship cargoes for attacks on the US.

The US will provide special containers with electronic digits, which will be used for shipments to the US, the source added."These containers will be equipped with a tracker to monitor its movement from satellite." EPB officials told customs clearing agents that cargo shipments would only be booked in the name of agents registered in the US and added that US customs authorities would not accept the shipments booked in the name of unregistered agents.

The EPB would notify the arrival of US inspectors who were expected soon, the source said.

An EPB official confirmed the briefing for the customs clearing agents, but declined to give any details about the deployment of US inspectors at Pakistani ports and airports.

UNI XC SP HT1642