ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister directed to make anti-trafficking measures more effective and faster.
A review meeting regarding the prevention of smuggling was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The Prime Minister said that people involved in smuggling will definitely not be allowed to harm the economy of Pakistan, the use of modern technology should be ensured to prevent smuggling, the involved elements and facilitators as well as the transporters used in smuggling. Vehicles should be impounded and legal action should be taken against them.
The Prime Minister said that it is a good thing that smuggling has decreased as a result of the actions of the relevant institutions, FBR, the Ministry of Interior and other institutions should improve their cooperation and provide better employment opportunities to the people in the border areas. A comprehensive strategy should be made and presented, all institutions should intensify their efforts to completely eliminate the scourge of trafficking from the country.
The Prime Minister was told in the briefing in the meeting that under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, a nationwide campaign is underway to prevent smuggling, smuggling of petroleum products, cigarettes, mobile phones, gold, tea, clothes, essential items, tires and vehicle parts. Effective measures are being taken against, essential commodities as well as other commodities have been included in the scope of anti-trafficking.
It was informed in the briefing that a web portal has been launched to prevent smuggling of urea and sugar, 54 joint check posts have been established as per the instructions of the Prime Minister, a system for identifying non-customs vehicles and their mapping has been implemented. Issuing is in the final stages, the draft legislation for the establishment of the Pakistan Land Port Authority is in the final stages, the meeting was also presented with a report on the performance of the anti-smuggling campaign so far.
Officials told the participants of the meeting in a briefing that 212 items included in the Afghan transit trade that were at risk of smuggling have been identified and banned. Along with the substantial reduction in the smuggling of essential commodities, the smuggling of petroleum products has decreased by 50%, the smuggling of sugar has decreased by 80%, and the smuggling of other food items has also decreased significantly.
In the briefing, it was said that during the financial year 2023-24, the value of the seized items due to thwarted smuggling attempts is Rs 106 billion.
The participants were also briefed on the action taken against officers involved in smuggling. It was informed that the process of identification of elements involved in smuggling, transporters and their facilitators is going on rapidly, in this regard help is also being taken from the database of NADRA, Excise and other institutions.
The Prime Minister directed to make the anti-trafficking measures more effective and faster.
Federal Ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ataullah Tarar, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Dr. Mossadegh Malik, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan, Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, four provinces were present in the meeting. Chief Secretaries and concerned senior officials attended.
