ISLAMABAD: Taking action on NEWSMAN’s news, Pakistan has closed down its borders with Iran and Afghanistan with immediate effect to stop smuggling of urea to these countries. This action has come into force forth with on the direction of prime minister, Imran Khan.
Sources said prime minister took serious notice of the media reports of urea smuggling from Pakistan to Afghanistan, Iran and other countries when his attention was drawn towards the issue during a meeting of Agriculture Transformation Plan (ATP). He immediately directed to the chief ministers of Balochistan and Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK) to seal the borders with Afghanistan and Iran and make sure that urea was not smuggled to these countries. The prime minister also showed serious concern over the media reports highlighting the indulgence of check posts staff at borders of Iran and Afghanistan in corrupt practices. He ordered immediate transfer of all staff posted at check posts at entry points with Afghanistan and Iran and ordered to appoint new staff there known for honesty.
The prime minister was extremely disturbed over reports of urea smuggling to Iran and Afghanistan and he directed to the provincial government to take immediate action against those involved in facilitating smuggling of urea, besides sealing of borders with Afghanistan and Iran.
NEWSMAN and its sister organistion DAILY DANISHWAR had reported massive smuggling of urea to Afghanistan and other regional countries in its Monday’s edition. This correspondent had also disclosed indulgence of officials of the government departments appointed at check posts along with Afghanistan and Iran.
The racket headed by smugglers has taken huge benefit of lower prices of urea in Pakistan and smuggled its huge quantity to Afghanistan and Iran in the recent weeks. The smugglers who are no other but those who are linked with the business of urea and other fertilzers in Pakistan. The smugglers have made the officials of different government departments posted at check posts a party to their illegal trade for money. This has led o shortage of urea in the local market. The farmers, who use urea for wheat crop in Decembers every year and usually stocks remain available to them, have been wailing to get each bag of urea.. They are not getting urea as days of its use are passing by.
Since wheat is sown in Pakistan in November, December is considered the best time for use of urea for wheat crop. If urea would not be available in December it would cause big drop in wheat production.
The urea smugglers, who have hands in gloves with the officials posted at check posts, have put Pakistan’s efforts to produce bumper crops of wheat this year in jeopardy.
