AI Scanners Rolled Out at Sost and Gabd Border Terminals
Pakistan has taken a major step toward modernising cross-border trade by installing advanced AI-based cargo scanning systems at two key border points. According to reports, the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) has deployed state-of-the-art scanners at the Sost Dry Port on the Pakistan–China border and the Gabd Border Terminal on the Pakistan–Iran frontier.
These locations are vital gateways for trade with China and Iran, handling a mix of containerised cargo, bulk goods and commercial vehicles. By introducing AI-enabled scanners at these terminals, authorities aim to make inspections faster, more accurate and less dependent on manual checks.
Containers Scanned in as Little as 22 Seconds
The new scanners are designed to inspect vehicles in as little as 22 seconds, a dramatic improvement over traditional inspection methods that can take several minutes per truck. The speed of the system is expected to significantly cut waiting times for transporters, reducing long queues and congestion at border crossings.
Faster inspection does not mean weaker controls. The AI-backed technology analyses each container’s contents using high-resolution imaging and automated pattern recognition. This allows customs officials to maintain strong security checks while keeping trade flows moving smoothly.
How AI Enhances Customs Security and Transparency
Using artificial intelligence, the new systems automatically identify cargo codes and analyse the structural details of consignments. The scanners can flag mismatches between declared goods and actual contents, helping authorities detect misdeclaration, smuggling attempts and other forms of illicit trade more reliably.
In addition, the technology digitally records scan images and related data, creating a detailed audit trail for each container. This digital record improves transparency and accountability in customs operations, making it easier to trace decisions, review suspect shipments and share information among relevant agencies when needed.
By reducing reliance on manual inspection and paperwork, the system also lowers the risk of human error and potential malpractice. Automated checks mean that high-risk containers can be targeted for deeper inspection based on data, while low-risk consignments move through more quickly.
Shorter Waiting Times and Smoother Trade Flows
Officials say the AI scanners will help reduce container waiting times, accelerate customs clearance and minimise unnecessary human intervention at the border. For traders and logistics companies, this means lower turnaround times, more predictable delivery schedules and reduced operating costs linked to delays.
Faster clearance can also ease pressure on parking and holding areas around border terminals, cutting congestion and improving safety for drivers and staff. In the longer run, smoother trade flows may encourage more businesses to route their cargo through formal channels instead of informal or undocumented routes.
Boosting Trade Along Major Economic Corridors
Analysts believe that deploying AI-based scanning systems at Sost and Gabd will strengthen key economic corridors that link Pakistan with its neighbours. The Sost Dry Port plays a central role in trade with China under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, while the Gabd Border Terminal is an important link for commerce with Iran.
By speeding up and securing cargo checks at these points, Pakistan can offer more efficient logistics to regional partners. This can help attract additional trade volume, deepen existing supply chains and position the country as a more competitive route for goods moving between China, Iran, the Gulf and beyond.
Part of a Wider Border Modernisation Drive
NLC officials have said that the deployment of AI-based scanners is part of a broader push to modernise border infrastructure and align Pakistan’s trade logistics with international standards. The goal is to move away from slow, paper-heavy procedures toward faster, data-driven and technology-enabled operations.
Modern scanning and data systems can also support future initiatives such as risk-based screening, single-window trade platforms and integrated customs management. Together, these reforms can reduce trade bottlenecks, improve revenue collection and make cross-border commerce more secure.
For Pakistan, investing in AI and automation at key border crossings reinforces its ambition to serve as a regional trade gateway. If similar systems are gradually extended to other land and port terminals, the benefits seen at Sost and Gabd could be replicated across the wider trade network.
