ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interim government has launched a crackdown on smugglers and black marketers across the country, the caretaker interior minister announced on Sunday, amid a worsening economic crisis in the South Asian country.
Pakistan has been embroiled in an economic crisis for the last one year, with its foreign exchange reserves depleting, currency devaluing sharply and inflation rising to record highs.
The South Asian country, which averted a default in June by securing a crucial $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund, has been taking various measures, including curbs on currency smuggling and hoarding of commodities, to stabilize the economy.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said all state institutions had committed to go to any extent to eradicate the menaces of smuggling and hoarding from the country.
“Consider this a warning from our side. Everyone has decided to go to the extreme against this menace. These are the evils due to which our country is bleeding,” he said.
“There is zero tolerance about both. Neither we will have any tolerance for smuggling, nor for hoarding.”
The authorities have also arrested 59 individuals associated with ‘hawala’ and ‘hundi’ (illegal means to remit money) businesses across the country, according to the minister.
He regretted the fact how black marketers had been hoarding commodities and disturbing the market for the taxpayers and poor people.
Bugti also said the government planned to announce prize money for anyone tipping it off of hoarders and smugglers in the country.
