Shehbaz Sharif orders smart scanners at Pakistan's international airports

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the immediate installation of smart scanners at all international airports in Pakistan, ordering that outdated baggage-screening procedures be replaced and that the equipment be brought in by air and installed without delay.

Chairing a meeting to review the customs system, the prime minister instructed authorities to adopt automated screening systems used internationally, saying passengers should not face unnecessary questioning by customs officials. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, he said the comfort and convenience of passengers was the top priority and that no one would be allowed to harass them. He also ordered international-standard training for staff providing services at airports, with courtesy and respect for passengers made key components of that training.

Officials briefed the meeting on the movement of goods and customs monitoring at airports, seaports and other locations, and on measures to curb petroleum smuggling. They said the establishment and operationalisation of digital enforcement stations had made significant progress, and that the Indus Collectorate (Enforcement) had seized goods worth around Rs205 million in 80 operations during its first three weeks. A total of 865 personnel had been deployed, covering 26 key routes. Enforcement operations were also under way against smuggled cloth, vehicles, cigarettes, high-speed diesel and auto parts, the meeting was told.

The meeting was also briefed on Federal Board of Revenue reforms aimed at consolidating customs enforcement into an integrated nationwide organisation to prevent smuggling. Officials said the recruitment of 280 goods evaluators had been completed as part of those reforms, with their training scheduled for October and November 2026.

The prime minister praised the FBR chairman and his team for introducing a new customs enforcement system. He called for all possible measures to prevent revenue losses through tax evasion, saying that businesses which paid taxes deserved respect while those evading taxes would face a zero-tolerance policy. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, lawmakers Usman Owaisi and Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, and senior officials attended the meeting.