ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Balochistan government to implement measures to curb the smuggling of diesel and petrol, which is causing substantial losses to the national treasury. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Mr. Sharif set a one-month deadline for the Balochistan chief secretary and inspector general of police to address the issue effectively.
The meeting resulted in nearly ten decisions, with deadlines varying from 15 days to two months for different ministries to follow through on directives. Since taking office, Mr. Sharif has regularly reviewed smuggling issues, particularly focusing on Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The foreign secretary was tasked with addressing border market issues with Iranian officials within 15 days. It was noted that while there has been no significant decrease in smuggling from Iran, more than 200 items were added to the negative list of the Afghanistan transit trade agreement, which has curbed smuggling.
Additionally, 212 vehicles suspected of being used for smuggling were banned, and the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) now requires bank guarantees instead of insurance guarantees. The overall smuggling of essential goods has decreased significantly, with reductions of 50% in petroleum products and 80% in sugar.
In the fiscal year 2024, Rs106 billion worth of smuggled products were seized, contributing to a decline in hoarding practices. PM Sharif proposed the confiscation of vehicles used in smuggling and encouraged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to develop new technological solutions to enhance anti-smuggling efforts. He suggested the possibility of hiring an international consultant for this purpose if needed.
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress in reducing smuggling and emphasized the need for legal action against those involved. He instructed the FBR, Ministry of Interior, and other relevant authorities to improve coordination and produce a detailed plan for increasing employment opportunities along the Balochistan border.
The meeting also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Interior to combat smuggling across various sectors, including petroleum products, cigarettes, mobile phones, and more. An online portal for sugar and urea prevention has been developed, and work on identifying and mapping non-custom paid vehicles is nearing completion. The establishment of 54 joint checkpoints and coordinated efforts with the National Data Registration Authority and other ministries are advancing swiftly.
