KARACHI: The Pakistan Army has gone into action to seal off the entire Sind border in a further bid to stop smuggling of foodgrains to India. The decision to hand over anti-smuggling operations to the Army was taken at a meeting of the Anti-Smuggling Coordination Committee held … under the chairmanship of Provincial Home Secretary, Mr Mohammad Khan Junejo. The step was taken to “ensure that not a single grain of wheat and other contraband goods are smuggled out of the province”, an official handout said. The meeting also decided that anti-smuggling operations under the direct ... supervision of the Army authorities will be launched “in full swing … with immediate effect”. …

The committee also decided to have a network of telephone lines all over the proposed area deep in the desert to communicate necessary information to the concerned quarters. … At the same time, special powers were conferred on “certain civil and military officers … to ensure proper check and effective implementation of the campaign. …” Among those present were representatives of the Army, the Navy, the Coast Guard … and Deputy Commissioners of … the districts that border on Rajasthan state in India.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2024