RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has directed the customs authorities and police to chalk out a joint mechanism to check smuggling of non-customs paid (NCP) vehicles into the province through the district of Dera Ghazi Khan.

Both police and customs have been asked to chalk-out a fresh strategy to check the smuggling of non-customs paid vehicles through the tri-boarder (Punjab-Sindh and Balochistan) and increase police patrolling.

At a recent meeting of the subcommittee on law and order of the provincial cabinet, a special report prepared by an intelligence agency on the smuggling of non-customs paid vehicles to Punjab through D.G. Khan was discussed.

Vehicles are smuggled to province through untraditional routes in Dera Ghazi Khan, meeting told

The report said D.G. Khan was located on the boundaries of Sindh, KP and Balochistan. The boundary of Punjab meets Balochistan and KP near a tribal area and the Indus Highway, respectively. A number of unconventional and non-traditional routes are present for transportation between these areas.

The unconventional routes pass though the mountain range of Koh-i- Suleman up to D.G. Khan. These routes are frequently used for smuggling of non-customs paid vehicles.

The meeting recommended that smuggling of vehicles needs to be stopped since these could easily be used in any act of terrorism in the province.

These routes can also be used by terrorists and criminal gangs for their nefarious designs. Moreover, weapons can also be transported to the province through these routes.

The meeting was informed that the report had already been shared with the inspector general of the Punjab police, commissioners and other officials of D.G. Khan for necessary action to check the smuggling of non-custom paid vehicles.

The provincial authorities also directed that the issue should be discussed by the divisional intelligence committee.

It was decided that a proper patrolling would be launched to chalk out a plan to reduce the chances of any criminal activities through these routes.

In view of the sensitivity of the issue, the law enforcement agencies were directed to take appropriate measures to check the smuggling of non-customs paid vehicles.

A customs official said unchecked smuggling of non-duty paid vehicles to Punjab was due to the absence of a mechanism and a lack of coordination among the police and intelligence agencies.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.