On Friday, the caretaker government took a significant step in the fightagainst smuggling by granting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) newpowers and authority. This pivotal decision was made during a meeting ledby Senator Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, the caretaker Interior Minister.
A formal letter has been issued to outline the extent of the FIA’s newlyacquired powers. These powers will allow the FIA to address the pressingissue of smuggling more effectively.
One of the key aspects of this decision is that the FIA now has theauthority to take necessary actions at all entry and exit points concerningforeign currencies. This development is expected to bolster efforts tocontrol the illegal movement of money in and out of the country.Additionally, FIA zonal directors have received instructions to maintaindaily reporting to the agency’s headquarters through established channels.
During the meeting chaired by PM Kakar, a comprehensive overview of thesmuggling situation, particularly in border areas, was presented. It washighlighted that 10 additional law enforcement check posts had beenestablished in Balochistan to combat smuggling.
Read Top Stories
The caretaker prime minister stressed the importance of preparing aninter-agency report to identify officers involved in smuggling and calledfor strong departmental action against them. PM Kakar also emphasized thatthe smuggling of petroleum products was negatively impacting revenue andforeign exchange reserves, necessitating a proactive approach.
To ensure accountability and continued efforts against smuggling, PMAnwaarul Haq Kakar announced his intention to chair weekly meetings forreviewing institutional performance and addressing the smuggling menace.This commitment reflects the government’s determination to combat thislong-standing issue and protect the country’s economic interests
