Monitoring of inter-provincial transportation to be increased

Minister calls for joint operations to check essential items smuggling

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government decided on Wednesday to take strict action against those involved in smuggling of essential items and make border control system more active to monitor the inter-provincial transportation.

The decision were taken in the meeting co-chaired by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, which reviewed the measures regarding the prevention of smuggling of wheat, sugar, fertiliser and other essential items.

The interior minister reiterated the government’s resolve to take action against the smugglers and their facilitators. He ordered the implementation of the track and trace system so that the elements involved in the smuggling could be checked.

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The minister warned that strict action would be taken against officers and staff involved in smuggling. For this purpose, he stressed the need of lunching joint operations and intelligence sharing by the institutions.

Similarly, he said, the smuggling of essential commodities out of the country also needed urgent controlling measures. “There is a need to make the border control system more active and monitoring of the inter-provincial transportation to check smuggling of essential commodities,” he said.

The minister also stressed the need for joint check posts and joint patrolling. Besides, he added, measures would have to be taken to stop smuggling from its point of origin to its route along with border areas.

During the meeting, the matter of necessary amendments to the relevant laws also came under discussion. Rana Sanaullah directed the law ministry and the FBR to complete the task of legislation promptly.

The meeting was also attended by Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, Industries Minister Murtaza Mehmood, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue Tariq Mehmood Pasha, Interior Secretary Ali Murtaza, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Asif Ahmed and others.