‘Hi-tech’ scanners termed inefficient: The hi-tech scanners, imported for detecting explosive material to curb terrorism, have been rejected by different concerned departments terming them as dangerous for health and useless for serving the intended purpose. “The scanners are not capable of specifically detecting the explosive material,” experts said. An official report suggested that a special medical expert should be arranged for these scanners to avoid accidental emission of radiation.
It said that the X-ray scanning system cannot function in rain and lightning; levelled and smooth surface for the movement of vehicle and scanner is required and the people using the X-ray scanners should remain at least 50 metres away from the machine.
“The system itself has no inbuilt integratedcapacity and capability to identify the explosive and other such material on its own. Reliance is on the human intelligence, personal skills, practical experience and intuition,” a report said.
Intelligence and law enforcing organisations are among the agencies which have rejected the X-Ray scanners, asking not to install them and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has asked the police authorities to adopt the required protective and pre-emptive measures before using them.

Experts for broadening tax base, improving collection system:
Experts here at pre-budget public consultation seminar stressed the need for broadening tax base besides improving the efficiency of tax collection system through latest technologies and making people realize their national responsibility of paying taxes for economic sustainability.
The first-ever pre-budget public consultation titled “Change in Collective National Behaviour, How to Expand the Tax Base in Pakistan: Ideas for the Budget 2010-11″ was held here on Thursday by National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue under the chairpersonship of Fouzia Wahab.The public consultation was held in order to get expert proposals and views about various aspects of the upcoming federal budget and improve interaction between the people and the parliament besides establishing the tradition of eliciting public input and ownership of country’s fiscal and financial priorities by the elected representatives.