The Ministry of Interior has implemented a nationwide ban on the sale of arms, as confirmed by an official notification.
According to the Ministry, the sale of arms is restricted to the Pakistan Ordinance Factory, and dealer receipts are not considered valid. The ban specifically prohibits arms dealers from selling weapons classified as a banned bore.
As outlined in the notification, arms dealers are not permitted to sell prohibited bore arms to license holders. License holders are exclusively allowed to procure arms from the Pakistan Ordinance Factory.
Furthermore, the license issued will be applicable only for arms acquired from the Pakistan Ordinance Factory, and no arms licenses will be granted for purchases from any dealer other than the Pakistan Ordinance Factory. This measure seems to be aimed at centralizing and regulating the arms trade to enhance control and security in the distribution and sale of firearms.
Afghanistan urges Pakistan to release thousands of containers from port
Meanwhile, Afghanistan called on Pakistan to release thousands of containers of imports allegedly stuck at Karachi port since Pakistan tightened regulations on transnational cargo.
Pakistani authorities claim substantial losses in taxes as goods are sent duty-free from its ports to landlocked Afghanistan and then reportedly smuggled back across the border.
Afghan authorities argue that Pakistan has halted over 3,000 Afghanistan-bound containers at Karachi port, demanding additional tax and duty payments, resulting in significant financial losses for traders.
The issue was discussed in a meeting between Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, and Jalil Abbas Jilani, the caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to a statement from the Afghan embassy, the meeting addressed “the transit problems and challenges of the two countries.” An official from the Afghan consulate in Peshawar mentioned that hundreds of these containers have been parked for several months, with some held for over a year, leading to spoilage of goods and financial losses for traders.
This trade dispute is one of several contentious issues that have strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
