According to a statement from Abdul Razak Dawood - Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Textile - the government is taking measures to eradicate smuggling. The adviser was addressing a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile, which discussed cross-border smuggling of fruits, including apple, and other goods from Iran.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Shibli Faraz and Kauda Babar raised the issue of illegal import of apples from Iran, demanding that trade should be brought under the legal channel. They also called for the imposition of duties to protect the farmers of Balochistan. Apart from that, the meeting also discussed the import of onions and tomatoes and urged the levying of taxes.
Dawood suggested holding a meeting with the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry to resolve such issues and address the grievances of importers. The committee noted that restriction on the import of onions and tomatoes had not strengthened Pakistan’s farmers and did not help in reducing prices. Responding to the concerns, the commerce secretary assured meeting participants that whatever the committee directed would be done to address such issues. The committee recommended the swift appointment of quarantine officers in Balochistan to curb smuggling and to support legal imports.
