From Correspondent

Khairpur, Sindh

A team of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the district administration officials have seized two long vehicles transporting huge quantity of wheat from Punjab to Karachi, the capital of Sindh province.

The trailers, loaded with hundreds of wheat bags, were seized in a successful operation against wheat smuggling near Shah Hussain bypass opposite Magsi Hotel, national highway Khairpur.

IB District Headquarters Khairpur team included In-charge Koural Khan Lashari, Inspector Asif Asghar Rind, Constable Safdar Ali Sohu, District Food Controller staff Food Inspector Ali Mardan Naich (in-charge food center Khairpur) and Sheeraz Ali Phulpoto, Assistant Mukhtyarkar Khairpur, who stopped two trailers numbering TLH -197 and JV-7897 moving from district Rajanpur of Punjab to Karachi Sindh.

During the search, wheat gags weighting about 1275 maunds worth Rs.5100000/- were seized from trailer number TLH -197 driven by Niaz Ahmed.

Similarly, wheat bags weighing 1275 maunds worth Rs.5100000/- were seized from trailer number JV-7897 driven by Amanullah.

After the seizer, the wheat and the trailers have been handed over to District Food Controller officials of Khairpur for further process as per implementation of the Section 144 of prohibitions on the movement of wheat imposed by the Food Department, government of Sindh.

Meanwhile, in Karachi, Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon and Food Minister Mukesh Chawla in a press conference on Tuesday said that due to bumper wheat crop, Sindh government has produced 3.6 million tons wheat this season which is 200000 tons more than the production of last year.

The provincial government had fixed procurement target of 1.4 million tons of which 750000 tons have been procured and the rest would be completed within prescribed time, they said adding that provincial government has imposed ban on movement of wheat outside the province till the procurement target is achieved.

Ministers said that Sindh Food Department has supplied half a million wheat bags to the flour mills of Karachi at the rate of Rs.10500 per 100kg bag and so far a subsidy of rupees eight to ten billion has been given to the flour mills of Karachi so that they can sell the wheat flour at Rs.120/- per kg. They were also allowed ten days to transport wheat to Karachi from other districts of Sindh.

“However, it has been observed that the flour mills are hoarding the wheat,” Sharjeel Inam and Mukesh Chawla said sounding a note of warning that government can launch crackdown on hoarders and seize the stocks.

The ministers asked the general public to lodge complaints, if they have any, against hoarders and millers charging excessive rates, and the government will surely come into action against them.

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The post Sindh seizes 2 trailers transporting Punjab wheat to Karachi first appeared on Sindh Courier.

 Karachi: During the anti-smuggling operations carried out by the Customs officials along with Sindh police, rangers and other agencies, some 451 illegal petrol pumps were sealed in Sindh and 205 FIRs were also registered.

This information was shared in a meeting of Anti-Smuggling Task Force held at Sindh Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Home Qazi Shahid Pervez, Chief Customs Collector South Abdul Qadir Memon, Secretary Livestock and Fisheries, representatives of Police, FIA, Navy, ANF and Coast Guards.

Customs officials informed that 15 smuggled items have been identified including Gutka, tyres, cigarettes, electrical appliances, betel nuts, fabrics, auto parts and cosmetics, being sold illegally. These items are being smuggled from Iran, India and Afghanistan to various cities of Sindh.

It was informed that in 2020-21, Police, Rangers and Customs conducted 1279 operations in the province and seized goods worth Rs.8314 million.

Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah directed all forces to launch a series of intelligence based operations and said that the operation against smuggling should be intensified and a campaign should be launched on media and social media to raise awareness about smuggled goods.

He directed the Sindh Home Secretary to create a WhatsApp group of focal persons of all the institutions so that better coordination could take place. (PR)

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The post 451 Illegal Petrol Pumps sealed in Sindh first appeared on Sindh Courier.