2023 crackdown against illicit activities in Pakistan

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2023 crackdown against illicit activities in Pakistan
DateEarly September 2023
LocationNationwide in Pakistan
Participants Government of Pakistan
Pakistan Armed Forces [1]
Law enforcement agencies
Outcome
  • Black markets of forex successfully eradicated [2]
  • Recovery of over 27 million rupees from power theft
  • Arrest of 194 electricity thieves
  • Seizure of commodities worth 2.25 billion rupees
  • Arrests related to illegal currency exchange

In early September 2023, the Pakistani government under administration of the Pakistan Armed Forces initiated a crackdown targeting both individuals and organizations engaged in various forms of smuggling, with a particular focus on essential commodities such as wheat, sugar, urea, oil, dollars as well as power theft, hoarding, and illegal currency exchange. [3] [4] The crackdown was announced by Asim Munir. [5]

Contents

Major operations

Power theft

The government's crackdown against power theft, hoarding, and smuggling remains in full swing across the country. In the ongoing nationwide effort to combat power theft, authorities have successfully recovered over Rs950 million rupees with nearly 500 individuals arrested involved in electricity theft. [6] The Senate Standing Committee on Power has commended the Power Division for its prompt and effective actions in addressing line losses and electricity theft across various DISCOs (Distribution Companies). [7]

Dollar smuggling

As part of the crackdown against illegal foreign currency exchange operations, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted raids on illicit money exchange dealers in Rawalpindi, resulting in the arrest of four individuals engaged in illegal currency exchange businesses. [8]

Others goods smuggling

The government has significantly ramped up its efforts to combat sugar smuggling. Pakistan Customs in September 2023 conducted an intensified anti-smuggling campaign across the country, resulting in the seizure of essential commodities valued at 2.25 billion rupees. The seized items encompassed a wide range of essential goods, including sugar, urea, petroleum, currency, tires, black tea, vehicles, iron, steel, and various other commodities. [9]

Impact

The crackdown had a substantial impact on curbing illicit activities throughout the country. It not only resulted in the recovery of substantial sums of money but also led to the apprehension of numerous individuals engaged in these unlawful practices. [10] [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

A currency is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general definition is that a currency is a system of money in common use within a specific environment over time, especially for people in a nation state. Under this definition, the British Pound sterling (£), euros (€), Japanese yen (¥), and U.S. dollars (US$) are examples of (government-issued) fiat currencies. Currencies may act as stores of value and be traded between nations in foreign exchange markets, which determine the relative values of the different currencies. Currencies in this sense are either chosen by users or decreed by governments, and each type has limited boundaries of acceptance; i.e., legal tender laws may require a particular unit of account for payments to government agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Pakistan</span>

The economy of Pakistan is categorized as a developing economy. It ranks as the 24th-largest based on GDP using purchasing power parity (PPP) and the 46th largest in terms of nominal GDP. With a population of 232 million people as of 2023, Pakistan’s position at per capita income ranks 161st by GDP (nominal) and 138th by GDP (PPP) according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smuggling</span> Illegal movement of goods or people

Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations. More broadly, social scientists define smuggling as the purposeful movement across a border in contravention to the relevant legal frameworks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arms trafficking</span> Illegal trafficking or smuggling of contraband weapons or ammunition

Arms trafficking or gunrunning is the illicit trade of contraband small arms, explosives, and ammunition, which constitutes part of a broad range of illegal activities often associated with transnational criminal organizations. The illegal trade of small arms, unlike other organized crime commodities, is more closely associated with exercising power in communities instead of achieving economic gain. Scholars estimate illegal arms transactions amount to over US$1 billion annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commodity money</span> Money with value derived from composition from a commodity (such as silver or gold coins)

Commodity money is money whose value comes from a commodity of which it is made. Commodity money consists of objects having value or use in themselves as well as their value in buying goods. This is in contrast to representative money, which has no intrinsic value but represents something of value such as gold or silver, in which it can be exchanged, and fiat money, which derives its value from having been established as money by government regulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illegal drug trade</span> Global black market

The illegal drug trade, drug trafficking, or narcotrafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs through the use of drug prohibition laws. The think tank Global Financial Integrity's Transnational Crime and the Developing World report estimates the size of the global illicit drug market between US$426 and US$652 billion in 2014 alone. With a world GDP of US$78 trillion in the same year, the illegal drug trade may be estimated as nearly 1% of total global trade. Consumption of illegal drugs is widespread globally, and it remains very difficult for local authorities to reduce the rates of drug consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian rupee</span> Official currency of India

The Indian rupee is the official currency in India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 paise. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India. The Reserve Bank manages currency in India and derives its role in currency management on the basis of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistani rupee</span> Currency of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

The Pakistani rupee is the official currency in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the State Bank of Pakistan. It was officially adopted by the Government of Pakistan in 1949. Earlier the coins and notes were issued and controlled by the Reserve Bank of India until 1949, when it was handed over to the Government and State Bank of Pakistan, by the Government and Reserve Bank of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Price ceiling</span> Method of price control

A price ceiling is a government- or group-imposed price control, or limit, on how high a price is charged for a product, commodity, or service. Governments use price ceilings to protect consumers from conditions that could make commodities prohibitively expensive. Such conditions can occur during periods of high inflation, in the event of an investment bubble, or in the event of monopoly ownership of a product, all of which can cause problems if imposed for a long period without controlled rationing, leading to shortages. Further problems can occur if a government sets unrealistic price ceilings, causing business failures, stock crashes, or even economic crises. On the other hand, price ceilings give a government to the power to prevent corporations from price gouging or otherwise setting prices that create negative outcomes for the government's society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black market</span> Market in which goods or services are traded illegally

A black market, underground economy, or shadow economy is a clandestine market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality or is characterized by noncompliance with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the set of goods and services whose production and distribution is prohibited or restricted by law, non-compliance with the rule constitutes a black-market trade since the transaction itself is illegal. Parties engaging in the production or distribution of prohibited goods and services are members of the illegal economy. Examples include the legal drug trade, prostitution, illegal currency transactions, and human trafficking. Violations of the tax code involving income tax evasion constitute membership in the unreported economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gold (Control) Act, 1968</span> Act of the Parliament of India, replaces Act 18 of 1965

The Gold (Control) Act, 1968 is a repealed Act of the Parliament of India which was enacted to control sale and holding of gold in personal possession. High demand for gold in India with negligible indigenous production results in gold imports, leading to drastic devaluation of the Indian rupee and depletion of foreign exchange reserves to alarming levels. Devaluation of the Indian rupee also leads to steep rises in food commodity prices due to costlier petroleum products imports. In these circumstances, the gold import policy of India aimed at curbing the gold imports to a manageable level time to time by imposing taxes and legal restrictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoarding (economics)</span> Economic concept

Hoarding in economics refers to the concept of purchasing and storing a large amount of product belonging to a particular market, creating scarcity of that product, and ultimately driving the price of that product up. Commonly hoarded products include assets such as money, gold and public securities, as well as vital goods such as fuel and medicine. Consumers are primarily hoarding resources so that they can maintain their current consumption rate in the event of a shortage. Hoarding resources can prevent or slow products or commodities from traveling through the economy. Subsequently, this may cause the product or commodity to become scarce, causing the value of the resource to rise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryptocurrency</span> Digital currency not reliant on a central authority

A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or crypto is a digital currency designed to work as a medium of exchange through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illicit cigarette trade</span> Trade in tobacco goods which fail to comply with legislation

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  3. Illicit whites: brands manufactured legitimately in one country, but smuggled and sold in another without duties being paid.

Daigou is an emerging form of cross-border exporting in which an individual or a syndicated group of exporters outside China purchases commodities for customers in China. Daigou shoppers typically purchase the desired goods in a region outside China, after which they post the goods to China or carry them in their luggage when they return to China. The goods are then sold for profit in China.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asim Munir</span> 11th Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)

Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah NI(M) is a Pakistani army general and the current Chief of Army Staff since 29 November 2022. Prior to becoming the army chief, he was posted at the GHQ as Quartermaster general. He commanded the XXX Corps in Gujranwala from 17 June 2019 to 6 October 2021. He served as the 23rd Director-General of the ISI until he was replaced by lieutenant general Faiz Hameed on 16 June 2019. Munir received the prestigious Sword of Honour for his performance as a cadet in the Officers Training School, Mangla.

East African drug trade refers to the sale and trafficking of illegal drugs that take place in East African countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The most prevalent types of drugs traded in East Africa are heroin, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and khat, all of which are strictly prohibited in East African countries.

Smuggling in Pakistan is a significant problem, and it has an impact on the country's economy. The illicit trade of various goods across Pakistan's borders with Iran and Afghanistan remains a persistent issue. Smuggled products have infiltrated multiple sectors of Pakistan's economy, spanning items such as cell phones, fuel, and everyday necessities like toiletries and tea. This illicit activity poses challenges to the formal economy and governmental efforts to regulate trade.

References

  1. "Pakistan army chief says actions to continue against 'illegal activities' harming economy". Arab News PK. September 28, 2023.
  2. Abbas, Waheed. "Pakistan: Crackdown against illegal currency market eliminates black-market rate". Khaleej Times.
  3. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistans-military-helps-stifle-currency-black-market-stabilise-rupee-2023-09-14/
  4. Jamal, Nasir (September 25, 2023). "The dollar galore in grey market". DAWN.COM.
  5. "Pakistan's crackdown on Iran trade drives up prices – DW – 09/26/2023". dw.com.
  6. Desk, BR Web (September 14, 2023). "Power theft campaign: hundreds arrested, millions of rupees recovered". Brecorder.
  7. Desk, NNPS (September 14, 2023). "Senate body applauds Power Division for taking swift action against line losses, electricity theft".
  8. "Pakistan Cracks Down On Illegal Currency Markets After Rupee Falls". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. September 11, 2023.
  9. "Crackdown against power theft, hoarding & smuggling continues across country". The Nation. September 12, 2023.
  10. "Govt launches crackdown against smugglers, hoarders and hawala brokers". 24newshd.tv.
  11. Ahmed, Baseer (September 10, 2023). "Large-scale crackdown against smugglers continues across country".