On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the authorities to take strict action against smugglers of wheat, sugar, and urea, which negatively impacts Pakistan’s foreign remittances and deprives its people of their rights.
During a meeting to review measures to curb smuggling, the Prime Minister vowed to eliminate this menace completely. He stated that he would not allow anyone to take away the country’s foreign remittances or deprive its people of their rights.
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Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged Allah’s blessings and the government’s efforts in achieving a bumper wheat crop, breaking records of the last ten years. He emphasized that the people of Pakistan have the right to benefit from the produce, resulting from farmers’ hard work and the government’s efforts, despite heavy rains and floods.
The Prime Minister expressed his determination to prevent smugglers from creating problems for the people. He stated that the government is planning to increase wheat production next year and has implemented a comprehensive plan to ensure an uninterrupted supply of Urea to farmers for the next crop.
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Furthermore, Prime Minister Sharif formed a steering committee to curb smuggling and instructed the Interior Minister to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, meet with provincial authorities and submit a report. He warned that officials involved in smuggling or negligence would face departmental proceedings, and goods being smuggled would be confiscated.
The Prime Minister also called for an increase in the number of anti-smuggling courts and for holding proper investigations to trace out the real culprits. He asked for strict punishment for culprits and urged taking action against all mill owners, dealers, and warehouse owners involved in smuggling. He also called on SUPARCO to monitor smuggling activities through satellite support.
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The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of law enforcement agencies and intelligence officials in curbing smuggling. The meeting was attended by federal ministers, heads of intelligence agencies, and relevant officers, who were briefed on the anti-smuggling efforts on district and provincial borders.
It was reported that around 6,000 tons of smuggling goods were recovered from Khuzdar in the last few weeks, and 4,342 tons were confiscated from convoys of trucks or warehouses during the last week. Officials facilitating smuggling were also replaced on a tip-off by intelligence institutions.
Headline inflation in Pakistan to hit historic high at 36.5% in April 2023
