Islamabad – Mubashir Akram, Country Director, ACT Alliance Pakistan, has expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of Customs Sepoy Jawad Ahmed and Excise ASI Sajid ul Islam, who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty during an attack near Kohat Toll Plaza while performing anti-smuggling duties. He also prayed for the early recovery of the injured Customs official.
“ACT Alliance Pakistan shares the grief of the families of the martyrs, Pakistan Customs, the Excise Department, and all enforcement institutions serving the country under difficult and dangerous conditions,” said Mubashir Akram. “Their sacrifice must be remembered as service to Pakistan’s economic security.”
He said the attack shows the serious risks faced by enforcement officials deployed against smuggling, tax evasion, and illegal business networks. “Pakistan Customs deserves national respect for standing on the front line against smuggling,” he said. “These officials do not merely check goods; they protect Pakistan’s revenue, markets, and rule of law.”
Mubashir urged the Government of Pakistan to take strong, coordinated, and sustained action against all forms of smuggling across the country. He said the response must not be limited to arrests in one case, but should include a wider crackdown on the networks, facilitators, financiers, transporters, warehouse operators, and retail channels that sustain illegal trade.
“The Government of Pakistan must treat this attack as a warning that smuggling is no longer a routine enforcement issue,” he said. “It is a law-and-order, revenue, governance, and national security issue.”
He said enforcement teams must be provided better intelligence support, mobility, equipment, protection, legal backing, and manpower. “No enforcement officer should be left vulnerable while confronting criminal networks that have money, weapons, routes, and protection systems,” Mubashir said.
Referring to the wider illegal economy, he said smuggling in petroleum, consumer items, cigarettes, and other high-value goods continues to create large pools of undocumented cash. “Smuggling feeds money laundering, corruption, organized crime, and financing streams for different criminal activities,” he said. “Every illegal shipment that enters the market weakens the lawful economy and strengthens those who operate outside the law.”
Mubashir said the sacrifices of enforcement officials should lead to institutional reform and stronger inter-agency coordination among Pakistan Customs, FBR Inland Revenue, provincial administrations, police, intelligence agencies, and financial monitoring authorities.
“The martyrs have done their duty,” he said. “Now the government must do its duty by pursuing the attackers, dismantling smuggling networks, and ensuring that illegal trade becomes a high-risk activity rather than a profitable business model.”
He concluded by saying that ACT Alliance Pakistan stands with Pakistan Customs and all enforcement agencies in their fight against smuggling and illegal trade. “Pakistan cannot protect its economy without protecting those who enforce the law,” Mubashir said.
