Consignments from China at ports: Customs hasn't started fumigation work despite PHE advisory

Pakistan Customs has so far not started fumigation work on the consignments imported from the affected areas of China at ports to avert spreading corona-virus in Pakistan, despite the advisory issued by Port Health Establishment (PHE).

According to details, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Novel Corona-Virus (NCV) as public health event of international concern (PHEIC) because it was determined to be an extraordinary event with public health risks to other states in accordance with health regulations 2005. As the NCV has reported in China and affected other countries, the national institute of health has issued the advisory.

According to an advisory, the PHE keeping in view the seriousness and sensitivity of the problem and concern of world community recommended the MCCs Appraisement not to clear cargos (human and animal origin) imported from the affected areas in the last 15 days without fumigation under the supervision of PHE to avert spreading NCV in the country.

However, the Pakistan Customs has so far not started fumigation work on the consignments imported from China at ports. On one hand, the government of China is establishing 1,000 beds hospital in the affected city Wahun within 10 days to ensure speedy medical assistance to avoid further human losses. On the other, the customs authority is still hanging in the balance to implement the said advisory, sources said.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Arshad Jamal, chairman All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) confirmed that terminals were so far not directed to ensure fumigation on the consignments imported from China and consignment were being cleared without fumigation. He said this sluggish attitude of customs department to initiate fumigation exercise at ports may cost heavy to the nation.

He said fumigation could easily be done on sealed containers and expressed his apprehension why customs was delaying such activity, albeit every passing day could increase the chances of spreading this deadly virus in the country.

Keeping the resources constrain of Pakistan customs in view, he urged the customs authority to restrict the shipping lines not to lift containers from China without fumigation as this virus could be transferable from one to another.

"Shipping lines in order to avoid being carrier of said virus across the globe should sense its responsibility and not to leave the vessels from Chinese ports without being fumigated and customs department should also not allow the crew members of the vessels to enter in the ports without their proper scanning," he added.

Muhammad Yahya president Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) also lambasted customs authority for delaying fumigation, saying that customs authority should also communicate the name of the vaccine to be fumigated on the cargos.

Furthermore, he said if the customs authority had limited resources or they were still unable to identify which vaccine would be effective to prevent spreading virus in the country, medical experts from private sector should be engaged as it was a public health issue.