PM orders strict action against smugglers of wheat, urea and sugar

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed immediate and stern action against smugglers of wheat, urea and sugar and taking them to the task.

He was chairing a review meeting regarding the prevention of smuggling of wheat, urea and sugar in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said he would not take a back seat till the elimination of the scourge of smuggling from the country.

He said a handful of black sheep would not be allowed to plunder the national exchequer and harm interests of the people of Pakistan.

Shehbaz Sharif said with the blessings of Allah Almighty and efforts of the government, wheat production was recorded the highest in the last one decade.

The Prime Minister said the government was planning to produce more wheat next year as compared to this year. He added that a comprehensive plan has been started to ensure an uninterrupted supply of urea to farmers for the upcoming crop.

He said with the blessing of God, the government is striving hard to make Pakistan, once again a wheat-exporting country. He said no person involved in smuggling will be spared and a steering committee has been constituted to curb check pilferage of wheat and other commodities.

The Prime Minister would himself chair the steering committee.

He directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to immediately visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and compile a performance report of the concerned officers in collaboration with the provincial administrations and present it to him. He said officers involved in smuggling should be dismissed from the service and after taking departmental action against them.

The Prime Minister said real culprits should be brought to justice by conducting a thorough examination of the goods confiscated from smugglers. He said the number and capacity of anti-smuggling courts should be enhanced.