Pakistan’s first Explosive Detection System has been inaugurated at the cargo terminal of Sialkot International Airport, marking a significant upgrade to the facility’s security infrastructure and positioning the airport to meet the international cargo screening standards that major export markets require of freight handling operations.
The advanced screening system was jointly inaugurated by SIAL Chairman Hassan Ali Bhatti and Export Development Fund Chairman Omer Saeed at a ceremony attended by senior airport officials and directors. Bhatti described the installation as a significant milestone for Sialkot International Airport, noting that the system is capable of scanning up to 1,800 bags per hour, a throughput capacity that enables faster processing of export consignments without creating bottlenecks at the cargo terminal during peak shipping periods. He said the technology would help ensure the smooth movement of cargo while demonstrating Pakistan’s commitment to meeting international security and operational standards that trading partners and foreign airlines increasingly expect from airports handling export freight.
Export Development Fund Chairman Omer Saeed said the new system would provide greater convenience to exporters and further strengthen Sialkot’s position as one of Pakistan’s leading export hubs. Sialkot serves as a major gateway for Pakistan’s sporting goods, surgical instruments, leather products, and textile exports, with the airport’s cargo terminal handling a substantial volume of time-sensitive international freight that requires reliable, compliant security processing to meet the customs and aviation security requirements of destination markets in Europe, North America, and the Gulf.
The installation of an Explosive Detection System at the cargo level represents a meaningful step in aligning Sialkot International Airport’s operations with the security frameworks that govern international air freight, where regulatory bodies and major airlines require evidence of compliant screening procedures before authorising cargo uplift. For Pakistani exporters using Sialkot as their primary shipping gateway, the upgrade reduces the risk of cargo being flagged, delayed, or rejected at destination points due to security compliance gaps, making the terminal a more reliable and internationally credible logistics facility for the region’s export-oriented industrial community.
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