Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reaffirming his commitment to eradicate smuggling from the country, has instructed relevant authorities to escalate the nationwide crackdown on this illicit activity.
Chairing a high-level meeting aimed at combating smuggling, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir for his unwavering support in the government’s anti-smuggling efforts.
During the meeting, a comprehensive report prepared by an investigation committee, led by AD Khawaja, was presented, outlining the misuse of Afghan Transit Trade for smuggling and the involvement of certain officers in facilitating such activities.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for swift action against the identified smugglers, hoarders, and their accomplices, directing the removal of implicated officers from their positions and initiating disciplinary proceedings against them.
He stressed the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies and intelligence bodies to effectively tackle the smuggling menace. Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for stringent punishment for smugglers and drug dealers, urging the Law Ministry to expedite the necessary legislation to support these measures.
Highlighting the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and smuggling, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the importance of providing alternative livelihood opportunities for youth in frontier regions to deter them from engaging in illicit activities.
He emphasized the need for enhanced monitoring of Afghan Transit Trade goods and advocated for third-party audits of the monitoring system to ensure transparency and accountability.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed authorities to eliminate sugar smuggling entirely and allocate funds for national-level assessments of drug consumption. The meeting also discussed the smuggling of various commodities, including sugar, wheat, fertilizer, petroleum products, and illegal weapons. It was revealed that a national anti-smuggling strategy is in its final stages of development, awaiting approval after stakeholder consultations.
