DLP Report
PESHAWAR
A one-day awareness seminar on the detrimental effects of illegal trade was held in Peshawar under the auspices of ACT Alliance Pakistan and the Rural Development Organization. The event brought together representatives from political parties, traders, labor leaders, and civil society for a robust discussion on the pressing issues of illegal trade, tax evasion, and smuggling in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Mubashir Akram, National Convener of ACT Alliance Pakistan, and Ayesha Qamar, Director of the Rural Development Program, highlighted the severe economic damage caused by these illegal activities.
They emphasized that Pakistan loses approximately 100 billion dollars annually due to illegal trade, tax evasion, and smuggling, a situation that exacerbates the country’s already precarious economic condition and disproportionately impacts ordinary citizens.
Participants of the seminar called on the government to take immediate and decisive action to curb these practices, which they identified as major threats to the provincial and national economy. They stressed the need for stricter enforcement of laws and policies to combat these challenges effectively.
Prominent attendees included Shah Zulqarnain of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Peshawar Mayor Muhammad Zubair, Jamaat-e-Islami leader and advocate Bahrullah Khan, former provincial minister Aasia Jahangir, labor leader Razam Khan, as well as lawyers, members of the business community, and civil society representatives.
The participants expressed gratitude to ACT Alliance Pakistan for organizing the seminar and raising awareness about the significant economic losses caused by illegal trade and its far-reaching consequences. The seminar concluded with a collective call for action to protect the economy and promote the welfare of the citizens.
