ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: Ministry of Ports and Shipping Secretary Fazal ur Rehman said on Tuesday that the government would provide all international requirements for exports at country's sea ports.

He stated this while chairing a meeting, which was attended by representatives of the ministries of commerce and interior and the Central Board of Revenue. Mr Rehman said the US and the European Union had expressed their concern at the export cargo in containers.

He said the World Customs Organization (WCO) desired that sea ports of Pakistan should be made efficient and attractive to the extent of installing scanning equipment's, says a press release issued here.

One such equipment has already been installed at the Port Qasim with a cost of $900,000 for expeditious clearance of goods, but this hardly meets the international standards required for the security of ports under the code of International Maritime.

Trade ships cannot be embarked on ports of Karachi for want of required depth. This also inflicts the business community monetarily. The purpose of the meeting was to resolve these issues.

The DG ports and shipping proposed that all shipments to the US should be originated from the Port Qasim instead of Keamari. The joint secretary of ministry of commerce suggested that delivery of goods to customers should be as per schedule.

Foolproof system must be implemented with the assistance of security and customs department viz-a-viz scanning. The representative of customs proposed that the ports must be upgraded, as the taxes being charged from exporters were reasonable. -APP