ISLAMABAD, March 4: Pakistan and the United States here on Saturday signed a ‘declaration of principles’ on enhancing international maritime trade security under a bilateral initiative called the Integrated Cargo/Container Control (IC3) Programme.

Central Board of Revenue Chairman M. Abdullah Yusuf and US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Croker inked the agreement.

An official said that the IC3 Programme envisaged a joint screening of the US-bound containerized cargo from Pakistan via live video link by the customs authorities of Pakistan and the US.

The CSI was in place at 40 ports across the world, with a plan for the inclusion of additional 50 ports by the end of the current year.

The screened cargo will not be subjected to re-examination by the US customs on arrival at US ports. Arrangements for implementing the IC3 Programme were earlier negotiated and finalized by senior customs officers of Pakistan and the US.

According to the official, large-scale scanners and sensor would be installed at the Port Qasim free of cost for screening the US-bound cargo in the first phase. The facility would be extended to other ports and terminals in Karachi in due course of time. Screening results would be viewed simultaneously in Pakistan and the US via live video link.

Initially, customs officials of both the countries would be posted at the port for operating the facility.

The programme, comprising Container Security Initiative (CSI) and some elements of Mega Ports Initiative (MPI), was being administered by the US customs department, in collaboration with the national customs authorities in selected countries.

The purpose of the programme is to facilitate the flow of genuine commercial cargo from important countries to the US market through inspection at the port of shipment (instead of inspection at the port of landing) and to forestall clandestine movement of dangerous cargo, including radioactive or explosive substances, added the official.