LAHORE: Senators have urged the government to take strict measures against smuggling which is adversely effecting the economy of the country.
Senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, speaking on his motion on smuggling, said it had harmed the economy of the country. He said that the Afghan transit trade played big role in promotion of smuggling due to which the national exchequer suffered losses worth billion of rupees. He demanded the formation of special customs force and satellite monitoring of borders to stop smuggling.
Senator Abdul Qayyum said that the Federal Board of Revenue should reinforce anti-smuggling laws and stressed the need for border management to reduce smuggling.
He claimed that weapons and explosives were also being smuggled from Afghanistan. He said that according to World Bank report the country suffered $35 billion loss from smuggling between 2001- 2010.
Senator Jhanzeb Jamaldeni said that people were attracted to smuggling when there was no industry and jobs, adding they should think about causes of smuggling. He claimed that items were being smuggled from Iran were cheap as compared to prices of local goods. Senator Ilyas Bilour said that black market was bigger then legal market of the country.
Senator Barrister Saif said that had the backward areas of the country developed the nation would have not faced the curse of smuggling . Senator Rehman Malik said that smuggling and terrorism were inter linked. Senator Tahir Mashadi said that smuggling was one of big hurled in way of progress and prosperity of the country.
Senator Nihal Hashmi said that PML-N government took effective steps to stop smuggling in 90s and opened green channels for overseas Pakistani on airports but unfortunately no effective policy was made by other governments.
