Pakistan to buy Chinese GRS scanners for border-control

Pakistan will purchase state-of-the-art scanners from China to check entry of illegal goods, including weapons of mass destruction (WMD), in commercial cargo containers.

“The government is procuring six gamma-ray scanners (GRS) for their installation at dry ports, imports-clearing points and customs check posts in Pakistani cities and towns bordering, India, Afghanistan and China,” the English-language Daily Times quoted a senior government official as saying.

The official said that installation of the German-origin scanners, being manufactured by Chinese firm TC Scan, would also help Pakistani cargo containers get easy entry into high-alert countries.

The GR system was selected after a detailed evaluation conducted by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

“The (GRS) is more efficient and reliable, and easy to maintain with lesser error rate and operation cost”, the official added.

Pakistan began to install different scanning systems, including personal identification and computerized evaluation system (PICES), at all the major exit and entry points as well as the customs check posts some three years ago to check movements of dubious people and unauthorized cargo moving in and outside Pakistan.

The official said that the government has installed one such GRS at Port Qasim in southern Karachi, which has performed well in terms of scanning weapons and ammunition, chemicals, narcotics and explosives with efficiency and reliability. (dpa)