Pakistan’s Ministry for Law and Justice Announces Measures to Strengthen Anti-Smuggling Efforts

Islamabad, Today, the Minister for Law and Justice led a meeting with top officials to address and enhance the legal mechanisms for combating smuggling. The discussions resulted in plans for legal amendments, the creation of specialized courts, and improved training for legal personnel.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting featured important contributions from the Attorney General of Pakistan, Mr. Mansoor Usman Awan, and representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The group identified significant issues in the current handling of anti-smuggling cases, including procedural delays and inefficiencies. To tackle these problems, the ministry proposed several corrective measures, such as amending the Anti-Smuggling Act and expanding specialized courts in Lahore, Multan, and Balochistan, which are to be specifically dedicated to these cases.

Additional reforms include enhanced monitoring of court performances by the Ministry of Law and Justice and the implementation of training programs for prosecutors and investigating officers to improve case handling. The Law Minister also directed the FBR to compile and present data on pending smuggling cases and their financial impact. This data will be reviewed in the next meeting to devise more targeted interventions. In a significant move to bolster local enforcement capabilities, a new custom court was ordered to be established immediately in Multan.