LAHORE: The Heathrow airport has issued a `yellow card` (or warning) to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for allegedly violating laws of the United Kingdom.

At an airport an airline can be placed in any of three categories green (satisfactory), yellow (warning) and red (stop operating).

The Border Force Heathrow has included PIA in the yellow category because its crewmembers are allegedly involved in carrying restricted items or goods in excess of their (dutyfree) personal allowances.

In a letter to PIA, the Heathrow authorities said: `A number ofyour employees, when operating as crew, have been identified as failing to comply with Border Force policy and/or UK law. Over recent months there have been a number of occasions when ineligible persons have attempted to use the Heathrow Crew Clearance facility, at Building 820. As a result of our checks in Building 820 they have been identified attempting to use it.

`Additionally, there have also been persons encountered there who have been found carrying restricted items or goods in excess of their duty-free personal allowances. There have been a number of reminders circulated to airlines to remind you who is eligible to use the Crew Clearance facilitates at Heathrow.

`Under the law all operatingcrewmembers travelling from outside the European Union are required to make a customs declaration. This applies whether or not they have obtained any goods abroad or during the flight. Crew members (are) not permitted to exit land side until they have made a customs declaration at the Border Force Crew Clearance facility in Building 820.

Warning PIA in clear terms, the airport authorities said: `As a law-enforcement agency, Border Force will prosecute those persons committing serious offences to the fullest extent of the law.

The management of the airport asl
When contacted, PIA`s Hanif Rana said the airline had taken notice of the matter and issued strict directions to the staff concerned.