All Pakistan Bus Union announce wheel jam against unnecessary checkings, sugar and urea smuggling to Afghanistan

The All Pakistan Bus Union has accused the authorities of conducting frequent checking of passenger buses in the name of sugar smuggling and mistreating passengers. In statement issued here on Tuesday, the passenger bus union announced to hold a wheel jam strike against unnecessary checking and sugar and urea smuggling.

The shortage of sugar in the Rakhshan Division is a result of the implementation of permits by the provincial government, and the mafia has caused a complete halt in service on all routes throughout the province due to rampant sugar smuggling.

The Spokesperson said "the general public was unable to access sugar and landlords cannot purchase a single parcel of urea fertilizer. Whil in Dalbandin, sugar is being sold for Rs.200 per kilogram, similarly the price in Taftan is even higher. Meanwhile, sugar smuggling continues in vehicles under the pretext of permits."

The Spokesman alleged that permits issued for sugar transportion by the Industrial Department were being sold for Rs.1 million and the mafia, having paid millions of rupees for permits, was involved in sugar smuggling.

He said checkposts had been established from Quetta to Noshki, where passenger buses are stopped, and bus staff members are harassed. At some occasions, violence had also been reported, which is an extremely regrettable act.

While the government laments over the plight of the weak economy on one hand, the issuance of permits leading to sugar smuggling raises questions. The Spokesman puzzled.

"In Noshki, Chagai, Dalbandin and Kharran districts, around 50 trucks with 800 parcels of loaded sugar arrive daily. Do the residents of these districts consume 40,000 bags of sugar daily? The district administrations of these areas have issued permits for a few hundred parcels, but all the sugar is being directly smuggled to Afghanistan, and no one questions it." The statement further argued.

The general public has been forced by the mafias at checkposts to the extent that small traders, landowners, or even farmers cannot purchase a single parcel of sugar or urea fertilizer. Meanwhile, hundreds of trucks are openly involved in sugar and urea smuggling in front of these checkposts, and the entire administration is aware of this.

The Spokesman accused and demanded the provincial government to immediately lift the ban on permit implementation and take immediate action against corrupt officials in the Industrial Department otherwise all routes would be closed by conducting a wheel jam protest.

He also demanded the Corps Commander Balochistan, Chief Minister Balochistan, IG FC, and Chief Collector Customs to promptly take notice against sugar smuggling in the name of permits.