Quetta: A joint session of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue and the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce was convened at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Quetta. The meeting, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, focused on trade issues, economic challenges, and anti-smuggling efforts in Balochistan.
The session saw participation from key officials including the Chief Minister of Balochistan, the Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Ali Hassan Zehri, and the Chief Secretary of Balochistan. Other attendees included the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, the Commander of the Frontier Corps at the Chaman Border, the Chief Executive of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, and senior officers from the ministries of Commerce, Finance and Revenue, and Customs.
Discussions during the meeting centered on the challenges to trade in Balochistan’s border areas, particularly infrastructure deficits, transportation, and clearance issues. The need to support local traders was a significant point of concern.
The committees also assessed the progress of the ongoing anti-smuggling campaign, exploring strategies to curb illegal trade. Senator Mandviwalla highlighted smuggling as a serious threat to the national economy and a hindrance to legitimate trade. He called for a coordinated strategy to eliminate smuggling from border areas.
Senator Mandviwalla also spoke on Balochistan’s economic potential, pointing out the persistent issues faced by traders despite the province’s natural resources and strategic location. He emphasized that addressing these issues through federal legislation and actionable policies is a priority.
The committees called for improved inter-agency coordination and comprehensive planning to promote legal trade, support local businesses, and combat smuggling.
The meeting concluded with a decision to present the session’s recommendations and observations in the Senate for further legislative and executive action.