LAHORE, April 2: Exporters have called upon the government to help them enforce the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Custom-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) - the two pre-requisites imposed by the US for international trade.

In a meeting with UNCTAD representatives on Friday, LCCI vice-president Shahzad Malik said the implementation of CSI and C-TPAT would leave majority of Pakistani exporters unqualified and they would lose the US market. "We need government assistance in achieving the C-TPAT certification," he said.

He said immediate steps needed to be taken to ensure that the port authorities undertake their respective security assessment with a view to development of the Port Facility Security Plans well before the deadline of July this year.

He said the World Custom Organization (WCO) should also be approached to bring together the customs administration in Europe and North America with the customs administration in Pakistan to explore collaborative initiative under the WCO Data Model to introduce mutually agreed facilitation measures, including designation of authorized traders whose containerized shipments from Pakistan could enjoy simplified cargo movement and clearance procedures.

UNCTAD advisor Will Keenan said the international community had determined mandatory security assistance measures that warrant urgent action in Pakistan. The first is CSI and the second is the International Ship and Port Security code under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (ISPS code). The third area to be addressed pertains to C-TPAT that all exporters are required to sign with the WCO.

The government has already announced to install seven container scanners - four in Karachi and one each in Lahore, Torkham and Chamman - at a cost of $6 million.

The government says it would take care of the security aspect of compliance issues in next six months.