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