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Heavy damage is inflicted on economy of country due to smuggling of food commodities due to price differential: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 01 (SABAH): Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a high level meeting to review anti-smuggling and anti-money-laundering measures on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that heavy damage is inflicted on economy of the country due to smuggling of food commodities due to price differential. He added that smuggling creates artificial shortage of commodities and ultimately results in price hike.

Prime Minister Imran Khan directed that all stakeholders should undertake emergency measures and bring-out-of-the-box solutions to control smuggling of essential commodities. He emphasized that the objective is to provide relief to the common man against price hike.

The meeting was informed that FIA has undertaken extensive investigations against illegal money laundering and holding of US dollars. It was apprised that manpower is being increased at border crossings to check goods and to ensure that each load is recorded for tracking purposes. The meeting was briefed that significant success has been achieved to control illegal petrol smuggling and operations against hoarders.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Syed Fakhar Imam, Asad Umar, Advisor to PM on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin, Advisorto PM on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razaq Dawood, SAPM Dr. Shehbaz Gill, Governor State Bank Dr. Reza Baqar, Chairman FBR, senior civil and military officers.

Meanwhile a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Wednesday, reviewed progress on CPEC-related projects.

Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister underscored that continuity of policies is essential for long-term projects in order to achieve maximum benefits for the country.

Imran Khan said China has been a time-tested friend of Pakistan and the government accords high priority to implementation and operationalization of CPEC projects.