Those involved in smuggling will not be allowed to cause harm to national economy: PM

ISLAMABAD, August 21 (Online): ,Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif while directing to make more effective and speed up the steps against smuggling has said those involved in smuggling will not be allowed at all to cause harm to national economy.
“use of modern technology to stem smuggling be ensured. The vehicles of transporters used in smuggling be confiscated and legal proceedings initiated against them beside facilitators and elements involved therein, he said this while chairing review meeting for prevention of smuggling in the country Wednesday.
It is good omen that smuggling has gone down due to effective actions by the respective institutions.
FBR, interior ministry and other institutions should forge more better cooperation among them. . ,
A comprehensive strategy be worked out and presented for better opportunities of jobs to the people living in border areas, he stressed.

All the institutions should accelerate their efforts for complete elimination of smuggling, he added.

The meeting was briefed that a comprehensive campaign is underway under the Ministry of Interior to check smuggling of petroleum products, cigarettes, mobile phones, gold, tea, clothes, commodities, vehicle tires and spare parts.
It was informed that a web portal has been launched for prevention of Sugar and Urea, while preparation of a mechanism for identification of non-custom paid vehicles and their mapping is also in final stages.
The meeting was apprised that fifty-four joint check posts have been established under the directives of the Prime Minister to curb smuggling.
Similarly, 212 vehicles of Afghan Transit Trade fleet, which were feared to be used in smuggling, have been identified and banned. Bank guarantee has been made compulsory instead of only insurance guarantee for the Afghan Transit Trade.
The meeting was apprised that besides an overall significant decline in the smuggling of essential goods, smuggling of petroleum products has been curtailed to fifty percent while Sugar 80 percent.

It was said in the briefing the cost of the smuggled goods confiscated during the financial year 2023-24 stands at Rs 106 billion.
The trend for hoarding has also declined due to anti smuggling campaign in the country.

The participants were also informed about the action taken against the officers found involved in conniving in smuggling. The process of identification of elements involved in smuggling, transporters and their facilitators is underway speedily. Help is being taken from data base of NADRA, Excise and other institutions in this regard.

Meeting was attended by federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Aurangzeb, Atta Ullah Tarar, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Dr Musaddaq Malik and chief secretaries of four provinces and concerned senior officials.