Special Report Independence Day 14 August
KARACHI: On August 14, 2024, the people of Pakistan celebrated Independence Day with great zeal and fervor. Amidst the celebrations, Pakistan Customs, under the guidance of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, reiterated its commitment to combating smuggling to support local businesses, trade, and economic development.
Under General Asim Munir’s leadership, Pakistan Customs implemented several strategic measures to curb smuggling. Certain goods with low demand were banned from transit trade, and a shortlist was created for goods being transported to Afghanistan, as these were often smuggled back into Pakistan. Additionally, the repatriation of Afghan nationals was initiated, although it faced challenges. Visa requirements for Afghans entering Pakistan were made mandatory, which helped control the influx of anti-social and criminal elements from the neighboring country.
An unprecedented anti-smuggling campaign was launched, involving all military and law enforcement agencies, as well as district administrations. The Rangers, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Coast Guards, Police, and district administrations, previously involved in smuggling and receiving bribes, were now actively assisting Customs. The involvement of army and paramilitary forces’ officials in smuggling was significantly reduced, with some officials being court-martialed.
General Asim Munir tasked Military Intelligence (MI) with rooting out corruption and eliminating smuggling within Customs. MI’s efficiency led to the identification of honest and dishonest officers, resulting in the posting of competent and reputed officers in sensitive positions across the country. Despite resistance from certain government quarters benefiting from smuggling, these reforms have been instrumental in minimizing corruption.
Moreover, there have been reforms in Pakistan Customs. Very reputed and competent officers in Pakistan Customs have been posted on sensitive positions such as Chief Collector Baluchistan Yaqoob Mako, Collector Quetta and Khuzdar Tahir Qureshi and his team Additional Collector Abdul Hai Shaikh Deputy Collector Taha Salman and his team.
High profile and honest officer Collector Appraisement Quetta Yasin Murtaza expert in appraisement as well as enforcement.
In Karachi Collector Enforcement Basit Abbasi, Additional Collector Dawood Pirzado, Deputy Collector Raza Naqvi are making cases on daily basis and have broken the backbone of smuggling network.
Collector Appraisement West Irfan Wahid, Collector Appraisement East Azhar Merchant, Collector Ali Zaman Gardezi, Collector Port Qasim Fayyaz Rasool are also very performing and good reputation officers.
Collector Ports Umar Shafique, Additional Collector Haroon Malik and Deputy collector Faizan are all hand-picked officers for such a sensitive post.
Additional Collector Hyderabad and Sukkur Tahir Abbas and his team keeping check on movement o smuggled goods.
Collector Multan Imran Sajad Bukhari, Additional Collector Shah Faisal Saho; Collector Sargodha Mehreen Naseem, Deputy Collector Dr. Zohaib and his team; Collector Export is now Irfan Javed experienced in Appraisement and anti-smuggling, Collector Exports Port Qasim Sadia Sheeraz streamlining EPZ and facilitation of exports. Jameel Baloch is heading Gwadar collectorate, which is a sensitive station. Collector Appraisement Peshawar Mateen Alam, Collector Preventive Peshawar Ziaullah Shams are also a dignified officers.
Smuggling is almost eliminated in Gilgit Baltistan by Collector Additional Collector Sajid Baloch, Assistant Collector Muhammad Imtiaz.
The next three to four months are crucial for Pakistan’s trade and economic development, with Iran playing a key role. Iran is ready to support Pakistan’s economic development, but Pakistan is cautious about straining relations with the USA. A decision on this matter must be made soon, as tilting towards Iran could strengthen Pakistan’s relationships with China, Russia, and India.
Over the past 75 years, policy makers in Pakistan have often been influenced by external forces, leading to policies that did not benefit the country. These policies pushed Pakistan into a quagmire and filled the pockets of a few, while the nation fell deep into the IMF debt trap. It is now time for Pakistan to break free from Western influence and chart its own path towards economic independence and prosperity.
In conclusion, the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 marked not only a commemoration of Pakistan’s freedom but also a renewed resolve to fight smuggling and corruption, paving the way for a brighter and more prosperous future.