ISLAMABAD: April 10, 20223: In a shocking development , Kharan has become a major point at Pakistan-Afghanistan for sugar and fertilizer smuggling. Reliable sources told NEWSMAN that at least two to three hundred long wheeler trailers cross border on daily basis from Kharan one of more than half a dozen entry points between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Smuggling of sugar and fertilisers from Pakistan to Afghanistan is thriving at Kharan border point as the government machinery stationed at this border point hardly take any snap checking . The Local administration and agencies authorised to check smuggling of sugar, fertilisers and other valuable products from Pakistan to Afghanistan are totally indifferent to rising smuggling of sugar and fertilizers into Afghanistan from Pakistan , sources said.
At least half a dozen other entry points including Qilla Saifullah and Qilla Abdullah between Balochistan and Afghanistan are a safe passage for smuggling of sugar, fertilisers and other commodities to Afghanistan.
NEWSMAN had reported some two months ago that more than half a ton sugar from Sindh-based mills have been smuggled to Afghanistan through Kharan and around half a dozen other border points between the two neighbouring countries.
According to our investigations, smugglers have a strong network in Balochstan and they use it to smuggle sugar and fertilsers and other commodities from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
This network of smugglers operates without any fear as the local administration and agencies authorized to check smuggling are party to this dirty business. The watch dogs have fixed rates of each vehicles for smuggling from Pakistan into Afghanistan.
There is hardly any restriction on taking trailers loaded with sugar and fertilizer or any other commodity once the officials appointed at the entry points are paid their fixed bribe.
Pakistan losses billions of dollars every year as a result of smuggling of sugar, wheat , flour , fertilizers and other items into Afghanistan. Sugar, fertilizers and other items which are smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan make entry into Asian Republics as there is a Wide difference in the rates at which these products are available in Pakistan and the price which smugglers get for these smuggled items in Afghanistan and even beyond.
For example , sugar is available in Pakistan at around 100 a kg (ex mill price) and its rate in Afghanistan is over Rs 200 per kg . The same commodity become costlier when its makes entry into Asian Republics via Afghanistan.