Sharjeel orders fully activating Narcotics Control Unit

The Sindh government has decided to fully activate the Narcotics Control Unit of the excise department and to crack down on drug dealers, starting next week across Sindh.

Sindh’s Senior Minister and Minister for Excise and Taxation, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon made this decision as he visited the office of the excise and taxation DG. He gathered information about the problems from the office and officials and assured them of their resolution.

A meeting was convened in the office of the excise and taxation DG under the chairmanship of the provincial minister. Memon received a briefing on the performance of the excise department. He ordered full activation of the intelligence unit of the department, and emphasized that the Narcotics Control Unit should be fully activated and utilized, with strict action to be taken against drug dealers across Sindh starting next week.

He emphasized the need for the eradication of all types of drugs, including ice, heroin, hashish and opium, as well as raw liquor. He directed the activation of 16 teams of the Narcotics Control Unit in Karachi, emphasizing the inclusion of young officers from the excise department in these teams.

During the meeting, it was also decided to link the renewal of vehicles with the payment of the excise duty. Additionally, it was suggested that route permits for vehicles should also be contingent upon tax payment. In this regard, Memon instructed the secretary of excise to draft a letter to the secretary of transport, proposing mutual cooperation on this matter.

He was informed that fifty percent of the tax-defaulting vehicles are commercial vehicles. He instructed that contacts should be established with government departments that do not pay taxes, and all vehicles failing to comply with tax payments will be impounded. He emphasized that no vehicle would be allowed to leave the showroom without registration. He further stated that amendments to the law would soon be made, leading to new legislation.

The minister also addressed the issue of additional charges assigned to officers in the excise department, ordering the immediate withdrawal of these charges from the relevant officers. He also issued directives for actions to be taken against illegal liquor stores and for measures to be implemented to prevent casualties resulting from illegal liquor consumption.