Pakistan

PM calls for utilisation of natural resources

Orders establishing monitoring system at border crossings to prevent smuggling

APP September 06, 2023

Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar speaks at an event in Karachi on August 23, 2023. PHOTO: Screengrab

ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to take effective measures for full utilisation of the country’s immense natural resources and establish a monitoring system at the irregular border crossings to prevent smuggling in a bid to boost the national economy.

The prime minister chaired two separate meetings to discuss matters pertaining to the Petroleum Division, and the measures for discouraging smuggling and promoting trade through legal channels, according to a handout.

The prime minister said that the development of road infrastructure was essential to ensure access to natural reserves.

He also ordered strict measures to curb illegal mining.

He instructed for fulfilling the legal formalities for an early appointment of the head of Oil and Gas Development Authority.

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Earlier, the Petroleum Division briefed the prime minister about its work to enhance oil and gas production besides efforts for exploring more natural resources.

The meeting was informed that foreign investment in the mining sector was also on a positive trajectory.

The pipeline network was being laid to supply oil and gas from different reserves and the foreign investment in the mining sector was also on a positive trajectory.

Interim Petroleum Minister Muhammad Ali and Adviser to the PM Ahad Cheema and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.

Separately, the commerce ministry briefed Prime Minister Kakar about the proposals to enhance exports volume, besides possible measures to curb smuggling during a meeting to discuss measures to promote trade through legal channels.

Different modalities of trade under the Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement were also reviewed in the meeting and it was recommended that improvement should be brought in the system for scanning and monitoring of the traded goods.