Weaponising: Pakistan’s import of arms on the rise

Country brought in Rs3.89 billion worth of arms and Rs1.84 billion worth of ammunition in last five years

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s import of arms and ammunition has seen a phenomenal increase in the last five years, with the total value amounting to Rs3.89 billion and Rs1.84 billion, respectively, during the period from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

In 2014-15 alone, Pakistan imported arms worth Rs301.13 million, increasing drastically from Rs234 million in the previous year. The country’s ammunition import amounted to Rs207.6 million, increasing slightly from Rs202.6 million the year before.



However, the biggest jump year-on-year was witnessed in 2012-13 when the country imported arms worth Rs862.2 million and ammunition valued at Rs841.7 million.

In 2013-14, the number went down to Rs628.1 million for arms and Rs202.6 million for ammunition.

New arms policy

The government has recently introduced a new policy for awarding quota for importing arms and ammunition by changing from value-based policy to a quantity-based policy.

Under the new regime, imports will be made through opening a Letter of Credit through banks, which was not mandatory under the previous policy.



Under the previous policy, clearance for the import of arms and ammunition was allowed through multiple channels. However, the number of channels has now been decreased and it would be allowed only through the custom collectorate in whose jurisdiction the business office is located.

Additionally, under the previous policy, there was no need of fresh applications and renewal through home departments while now, it would be mandatory to be routed through the provincial home departments and the interior ministry rather than directly approaching the Ministry of Commerce.

Under the new policy, it has been made mandatory to keep a category pass book. The Ministry of Commerce would conduct periodic audit of bank record on annual basis.



The new policy has also made mandatory the defining mechanism of weapons classified i.e. prohibited weapons and non-prohibited weapons.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2015.

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