Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has directed the relevant law enforcement agencies including the Frontier Corps, Pakistan Customs and district administration to expedite their efforts for complete eradication of smuggling.
With abhorrent practice of smuggling, few influential people were benefited, he said and stressed that with the establishment of special economic zones and industries in the border areas of the country, provision of alternate livelihood opportunities to the inhabitants should be ensured.
The caretaker prime minister on Monday chaired a review meeting regarding Afghan Transit Trade and anti-smuggling operations. Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar, chief secretaries of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, IGs of FC, federal secretaries and other relevant senior officials attended the meeting, said a press release issued PM Office Media Wing.
During the meeting, a report over the Afghan Transit Trade and curbing of smuggling was presented. The meeting was also informed about the performance of Pakistan Customs, FC, district administration and NLC in the border areas. All these agencies had been working to curb smuggling at the border areas which led to saving of national exchequer from the huge damage caused by the millions of tones smuggling of illegal goods.
Premier Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar directed for formulation of a comprehensive mechanism for provision of employment opportunities to the local people through social safety and imparting of skill sets.
He also directed the ministry of trade to ensure strict monitoring of transit trade and apprise the relevant authorities about the trends over export of goods.
Expressing the resolve to end smuggling which was causing huge losses to the nation, the PM reiterated that the government would not allow those local elements who had been claiming in grotesque manner of providing job opportunities to the people through smuggling.
The prime minister further said that the interim government would continue taking steps to end smuggling till the completion of its tenure and directed NLC to complete its scanning and checking project at Chaman border on priority basis.
