ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A total of 1,919 persons have been arrested by the Customs Department in cases of smuggling during the last five years, the National Assembly was told.
In reply to a question by the MNA Ms. Shaheen Naz Saifullah, the Minister for Finance and Revenue apprised the Lower House of the Parliament that of those 1,919, 925 persons were sentenced by the Courts of Law while only five persons were released without trial.
The minister told that the government is making its all-out efforts to tackle with the issue of smuggling through concerted efforts.
The House was apprised that to curb the menace of smuggling, Pakistan Customs has reinvigorated its enforcement measures which include intelligence sharing, launching of joint operations and provisions of support and facilitation to the Customs Authorities by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
To another question by Mr. Shahid Ahmad, the minister told that no new policy for payment of pension to employees on date of their retirement is under preparation.
The minister told that necessary provisions in the Pension Regulations already exist to ensure payment of pension to the pensioners on the date it becomes due.
Furthermore, he told that the payment of pension has been further streamlined through amendments in rules to ensure that after retirement, the retired employee is not without pensionary benefits even for a single day.
