President Dr Arif Alvi Friday promulgated Anti-Smuggling Ordinance, 2020, into law to tighten noose around smugglers of currency and essential commodities.

According to the anti-smuggling ordinance, which was sent to the president for signature after approval of the federal cabinet, those found supplying currency, wheat, flour, rice, and other essential food items through illegal routes would be treated as smugglers, and would face imprisonment up to 14 years.

The ordinance further described that a person found smuggling Rs3 million worth of commodities would face up to two-year in jail, while smugglers of Rs5 million worth of essential items would be imprisoned for three years.

The ordinance also stipulates five-year imprisonment for smuggling of commodities worth Rs7.5 million, 10-year imprisonment for smuggling of items whose value range from Rs7.5 to Rs10 million, and 14-year jail term for smuggling of commodities worth more than Rs10 million.