PESHAWAR: National Logistic Cell (NLC) Deputy Controller Faisal Maqsood has said that establishment of Luggage scanner room is the first phase of border improvement project at Torkham as the cell is working on construction of a modern Customs Complex which will have all the facilities, including scanning of fully loaded trucks.
He expressed the hope that with the support and cooperation of political authorities of Khyber Agency, officials of Khyber Rifles, Frontier Corps and the NLC, the Pakistan Custom would be able to hold proper checking of all the travellers.
Referring to the concerns of people from across the border, over increased checking and making border passage mandatory through valid travel documents, he said all these measures are taken for improving border management and were not aimed at creating difficulties for travellers.
He said scanner machines will help in curbing smuggling of arms, contraband drugs, currencies and trade goods. He said for checking of female travellers, Pakistan Customs has appointed five female searchers who will now properly check women, especially those who are wearing full veil.
Meanwhile, Assistant political agent Khyber Rahimullah Mehsud said that the government officials are in touch with authorities in Afghanistan for improvement of border checking at Torkham. He said that the government is serious in implementation of travel document condition from May 1, 2016 and in this connection no person would be allowed to enter Pakistan without having passport and visa. He also agreed with a questioner that improved checking will result in better security and it was a long standing demand of security forces to improve checking at border posts.
