Measures taken to curb inter-provincial smuggling

On the orders of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, anti-smuggling personnel have been deployed at inter-provincial check posts in Dajal to control the illegal transportation of wheat and fertilizers.

The Dajal check post has inter-provincial status and is located at the confluence of KP and Punjab. There is access to KP by both land and the Indus River.

The checking of all freight vehicles headed to KP was tightened so that wheat and fertilizer could not be smuggled by any means. At the same time, after monitoring the land route of KP and Punjab province, the 110 km river route of Punjab province along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was also completely sealed. The number of personnel stationed at the police check posts on the banks of the Indus River has also been increased, to prevent smuggling by water.

Deputy Commissioner Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhoon and District Police Officer Syed Ali Raza stated that the monitoring of river routes has been tightened.

Boat travel has been banned at night through establishing set working hours.

The DC and DPO paid a surprise visit at night to review the arrangements made to prevent smuggling. Staff from the police and food and agriculture departments were placed on high alert. Additionally, strict action will be taken against wheat and fertilizer smugglers on the spot. Inspection of the check post will be conducted continuously.

Staff were directed that any illegal smuggling should be immediately and directly reported to the district administration. A control room was established in the office of Deputy Commissioner Bhakkar and DC Bhoon posted his official mobile number in prominent places for those reporting instances of smuggling.

In April of this year, Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal directed all Punjab DCs to tighten measures for curbing wheat and fertilizer smuggling.

During the video-link meeting, it was stressed that wheat and fertilizer smuggling adversely impacted crop harvests. In the context of ongoing economic struggles, curbing smuggling carries much greater importance.

Additionally, three checkpoints were set up in Taxila to curb wheat smuggling into KP. The District Food Administration set these checkpoints up to prevent black marketeering and price hikes.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2022.