March 4, 2006	Saturday	Safar 3, 1427

ISLAMABAD March 3: Pakistan and the United States will sign an agreement on Saturday to facilitate immediate clearance of Pakistani export products at US ports.

An official told Dawn that the Central Board of Revenue chairman and a senior US customs official would sign the agreement.

Under the agreement, the implementation of integrated cargo/container programme in Pakistan and the US would facilitate immediate clearance of Pakistani export products at the US ports.

The US customs and border protection department under the international maritime trade security plan offered the integrated cargo/container control programme to Pakistan.

Customs officials of the two countries would carry out joint live video scanning of cargo containers destined for the US to be viewed simultaneously in the US and Pakistan.

Containers carrying the screened cargo would be sealed with security taps before shipment to the US. There will be no further inspection of the cargo in the US after clearance at the Port Qasim, except in cases of tampering with the seal or other similar circumstances, added the official.