ISLAMABAD: An inter-ministerial meeting on Friday noted with concern that many of the challenges facing the country are exacerbated by smuggling, mostly along the western borders, and efforts to prevent outflow of foreign currency and key imports. It has been decided to take strong measures.
The meeting presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was told that various reports indicate that not only foreign currency but also wheat and urea were imported at a heavy subsidy on the cost of foreign exchange going to Afghanistan.
The participants of the meeting were surprised that despite the presence of heavy personnel of civil and armed forces and Customs and fencing of more than 2500 km of borders at a cost of more than 50 billion rupees, smuggling of urea, wheat and currency is taking place. It was observed that it was humanly difficult to monitor such a long border but still it was not allowed to continue.
Mr. Dar directed that all the stakeholders should go beyond their normal responsibilities to do their work in a coordinated manner in the interest of the country and also keep in mind cross-border sensitivities.
Finance Minister emphasized on
coordinated efforts in the national interest.
The finance minister said that everyone has to play a role because no single institution can control the situation without the support of others. Irony was expressed in the meeting that huge amount of dollar was allegedly being transferred out of Afghanistan in the name of coal import in local currency.
“The meeting discussed and reviewed the economic situation and current procedures for smuggling of foreign exchange, wheat and urea,” a statement issued by the finance ministry said. The statement said that various measures to strengthen the anti-trafficking system were discussed.
The statement did not elaborate on the steps. However, an official said that all the stakeholders especially the Customs Intelligence, Border Constabulary and Intelligence agencies were asked by the Finance Minister to deal with the menace on an urgent basis with their respective roadmaps, leading to Katty. There is severe financial and foreign exchange loss. It faced historical challenges.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Law Minister Nazir Tarar, Special Assistants to Prime Minister on Finance Tariq Bajwa and Tariq Pasha, Governor State Bank, Secretary Finance and Interior and DG Federal Investigation Agency and senior representatives of Customs and Intelligence agencies.
The finance minister “stressed the need for coordination between all relevant platforms” to deal with the situation and asked the authorities concerned to formulate a strong and proactive road map to curb cross-border smuggling of various commodities so that the economic and financial stability in the country.
