Steps under way to curb smuggling, NA told

Minister says Pakistan Customs' office at Pakistan-Afghanistan border is strictly enforcing documentation requirements

ISLAMABAD:

Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha on informed the National Assembly on Thursday that the government was taking concrete steps to curb smuggling from the Afghan border into Pakistan.

She was responding to a calling attention notice regarding the smuggling of Indian Chalia, Gutka, Mawa, and other harmful substances through the Afghanistan border. Pasha assured that the government's efforts to prevent the smuggling of these items would yield positive results.

Pasha further explained that the Pakistan Customs' office, which has been established at the Pakistan-Afghanistan international border, is strictly enforcing documentation requirements, thereby preventing any unauthorised items from entering the country.

In response to another calling attention notice regarding the high electricity rates charged for tube wells used for agricultural consumption, Minister for Energy Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan stated that despite facing financial challenges, the government was providing subsidies to farmers.