No more smuggling

This refers to the news report, ‘FBR plans anti-smuggling policy to protect local industry’ (June 23). Mere measures will not succeed unless the FBR and other institutions responsible for preventing this activity are cleansed of corrupt elements. The punishment for smuggling should be made more severe.
Apart from stopping smuggling, our liberal import policy also needs to be reviewed to curb unabated influx of foreign goods, including such luxury items that are being produced locally. Because of a liberal import policy our industry is suffering and manufacturing plants are closing down. The import of all such luxury items and goods should be put in the negative list and their influx banned. Industrialists should be encouraged and incentivised for setting up plants. These measures will greatly decrease trade deficit, promote entrepreneurship and reduce external borrowing.
Huma
Karachi