Crackdown on illegal foreigners, power theft, begging mafia intensifies

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired the third important meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and Harden the State Committee.

During the meeting, it was decided that operations against foreign nationals residing illegally in Pakistan will be accelerated.

The interior minister said that NADRA will provide live data verification facilities at exit points. He emphasized that all institutions must work together to fully implement the One Document Regime . Federal and provincial agencies must coordinate efforts to eliminate the illegal spectrum from the country.

Mohsin Naqvi stated that the beggar mafia is tarnishing the country s image and must be dealt with strictly. He stressed the need to declare begging a non-bailable offense.

He also said that every possible support is being provided to the Ministry of Energy and provincial governments to prevent electricity theft. A representative from the Ministry of Energy briefed that Rs142 billion have been recovered through cooperation between the Interior Ministry and provincial governments. It was further informed that more than 250 intelligence-based operations are being conducted daily.

The meeting also reviewed progress on anti-encroachment operations and the establishment of the Pakistan Port Authority.

Progress on the Gwadar City Safe City Project and the construction of a protection wall was also discussed. During the briefing, it was stated that digital enforcement stations are being set up on the Indus River, while work is ongoing on an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) for effective monitoring on motorways and national highways.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the digitization of petrol pumps to curb the sale of illegal and smuggled fuel. According to the briefing under the new law, customs officers and the relevant deputy commissioner will have the authority to seal petrol pumps and seize vehicles.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Punjab Law Minister Sohaib Ahmed Bharti, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Advisor Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, and Gilgit-Baltistan Interior Minister attended the meeting.

Federal secretary interior, Inspectors General of Police and Home secretaries from all provinces including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, DG FIA, National Coordinator NACTA, chief commissioner Islamabad, Coordinator of the National Action Plan, and senior officials from security agencies also attended the meeting.