KARACHI, Oct 5: Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Tariq Ikram has stressed the need for fast export shipments system to facilitate exporters.

He said this in a meeting on Friday with senior officials of the ministry of narcotics control, chief collector Customs and representatives of Exporters Association.

At the meeting the exporters association presented problems with regard to delays in shipment of various goods including perishable items, poor repacking after inspections at terminals causing inconvenience to the exporters.

After deliberations, a number of suggestions were agreed upon.

It was decided that in future containers that have been accepted or marked out for examination will be sent to a specific area or terminal and exporters would be asked to send their staff with packaging material to repack the undone containers.

The Anti-narcotics Force will put on the website the schedule of examination for the information of exporters to save their time.

It was also agreed that the exporters association will give a certificate to the members to the effect that there are no drugs in the container. This, however, will be a prerogative of the ANF to accept the certificate or otherwise.

The certificate will help the staff to carryout examination on priority basis of the perishable items as they get damaged on unpacking. It was also agreed that containers bound for US would be examined first by the ANF prior to IC 3 scanning.The ANF has now started checking on 6 days a week instead of 3 times a week earlier thus further facilitating the exporters.

The exporters association will maintain a database of all bonafide exporters for reference and registration with the TDAP for smooth working relationship.

Tariq lkram announced a contribution of Rs2m for ANF for the purchase of ten dogs so that checking of shipments be expedited and there are no delays.

—APP