Shehbaz orders immediate installation of smart scanners at all international airports

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved steps to make air travel more convenient for passengers, directing authorities to install smart scanners at all international airports across Pakistan without delay.

The initiative is aimed at cutting down unnecessary questioning by customs officials and replacing traditional baggage inspection methods with automated screening technology. The prime minister also stressed the need to improve staff training, making courteous behaviour and respect for passengers essential parts of airport services.

Chairing a meeting in Islamabad to review the customs system, Shehbaz instructed officials to transport the smart scanners to Pakistan by air and ensure their immediate installation at international airports nationwide.

He said passenger comfort and convenience must remain the government’s foremost priority, adding that outdated baggage checking procedures should be replaced with modern systems used internationally.

The prime minister further directed customs personnel to use smart scanners for baggage inspections instead of putting travellers through unnecessary questioning and inconvenience.

Shehbaz stressed that airports across Pakistan needed to adopt internationally recognised automated screening systems to improve the passenger experience and bring baggage inspection procedures in line with global standards.

He also called for proper training of airport service staff according to international benchmarks. Politeness, professional behaviour and respect for human dignity, he said, should be central to the training process.

The prime minister appreciated the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) new customs enforcement system and acknowledged the FBR chairman and his team for their efforts to strengthen enforcement and curb smuggling.

He emphasised that all possible steps must be taken to prevent revenue losses caused by tax evasion. Businesses that fulfil their tax obligations should be treated with respect, while a zero-tolerance policy would be maintained towards those involved in evading taxes.

Shehbaz said the government was responsible for protecting public funds and would take every possible measure to safeguard national revenue.

During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on customs monitoring and the movement of goods at airports, seaports and other locations throughout the country. They also outlined the performance of the Customs Enforcement Force and measures being taken to stop the smuggling of petroleum products.

According to the briefing, considerable progress had been made in setting up and making digital enforcement stations operational under the customs enforcement initiative.

The Indus Collectorate Enforcement conducted 80 operations during its first three weeks, seizing goods worth approximately Rs205 million.

Officials said 865 personnel had been deployed, while enforcement activities were being carried out along 26 major routes.

Authorities also reported ongoing action against smuggled items, including fabrics, vehicles, cigarettes, high-speed diesel, auto parts and other goods.

As part of broader customs reforms, the recruitment of 280 goods evaluators had been completed. Their training is scheduled for October and November 2026.

The meeting was further informed that the FBR’s anti-smuggling reforms had consolidated customs enforcement functions into an integrated organisation operating across the country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Musadik Malik, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, members of the National Assembly Usman Owaisi and Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, along with relevant senior officials, attended the meeting.

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