GWADAR/CHAGAI: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is on a four-day visit to Balochistan, has said that the government is boosting security arrangements by erecting fences along the borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

He said this during a visit to the Pak-Iran border where he took an aerial view of Mand and Redeeg and visited the newly-opened trade gateway with Iran at Raimdan/Gabad.

Inspector General of Frontier Corps, South, Maj Gen Bilal Safdar and Deputy Commissioner of Turbat Ilyas Badini accompanied the interior minister during the visit.

The officials at a briefing told the minister that 40 per cent fencing work at the Iran border had been completed and the 928km fence would be completed by June this year.

Briefed on border fencing during visits to Iran border

Similarly, he was told that 90pc fencing work had been completed at the Afghan border and the remaining work would be completed in four months.

The interior minister said that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed cordial relations, which would be further strengthened with the passage of time as Pakistan gave importance to its relations with Iran.

He said that Pakistan was developing its border management system on modern lines to provide maximum legal crossing and trade facilities at the borders with Iran and Afghanistan.

Sheikh Rashid said that the government was taking steps to ensure internal security and would not allow enemies of the country to succeed in their nefarious designs.

He said that Gwadar would be the future economic hub of Pakistan and that was why the enemy wanted to destabilise Balochistan but all such designs would be foiled by the security forces with the cooperation of the people.

“Terrorists who want to destabilise Balochistan would not have a place to hide,” he warned.

The interior minister expressed similar views during a visit to Pak-Iran border in the Taftan area of Chagai district. He visited different entry points at Taftan border crossing and witnessed the arrangements for trade and residential camps for pilgrims travelling to Iran.

Sheikh Rashid ordered the authorities concerned to improve the arrangements for pilgrims at Taftan border.

He was given a briefing on border fencing as well as mutual trade and travel activities between Pakistan and Iran.

The minister vowed to facilitate cross-border trade and said that resources were being utilised to boost internal security of the country.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2021