Joint check-posts to prevent smuggling

The government on Friday approved the establishment of joint check-posts of police, customs, and other law-enforcement agencies as well as the joint patrolling of the routes to prevent smuggling of wheat, sugar, fertilizer, and other essential items.

The decision was taken in the third meeting of the committee formed by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the prevention of smuggling of essential items. The meeting was co-chaired by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

The meeting was informed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had established a central data cell regarding the smuggling of essential commodities, while amendments to the relevant laws were being made to effectively prevent the smuggling.

Read more: Steps under way to curb smuggling, NA told

On the occasion, Rana Sana termed the smuggling of essential commodities out of the country a national security issue. He assured that all necessary steps would be taken in order to avoid shortage of essential commodities in the country.

“This is a serious problem and the government will have to take every possible step to counter the problem,” added the defence minister. “We have to take tough decisions to prevent this,” Asif added.

The meeting was attended by Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar, Industries Minister Murtaza Mehmood, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Pasha, Interior Secretary Ali Murtaza, FBR Chairman Asif Ahmed and others.