ISLAMABAD: New Battalions of paramilitary forces being raised worthbillions of rupees, Media Report has revealed.
The government has decided to raise a set of highly technically equippedbattalions of paramilitary forces and customs under a multi-billion-rupeemulti-pronged Border Monitoring Initiative (BMI) to check cross-bordersmuggling, causing significant losses to the national economy.
A senior government official told *Dawn* that Prime Minister Imran Khanhad already approved immediate recruitment of more than 2,000 officials,besides raising two additional battalions each of Gilgit-Baltistan Scoutsand Pakistan Coast Guards.
These inductions would be made through strict security clearance by therelevant security agencies.
Pakistan Customs has been given the lead role for an initial period of twoyears and would be fully equipped with modern technological gadgets,logistic support, weapons, etc.
The prime minister has also ordered immediate creation of a directorategeneral of law and prosecutions to support customs activities.
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The Shuhada package, under which the families of police and paramilitarypersonnel are given compensation, has also been extended to PakistanCustoms officers and officials who lose their lives in the line of duty.
Upgrade of border monitoring facilities is also part of the BMI. This wouldcost over Rs52 billion in Balochistan alone where the armed forces willcontinue to have a leading role.
An Anti-Smuggling Steering Committee (ASSC) has also been constituteddirectly under the prime minister.
