Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday addressed a wide range of pressing national concerns during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, including smuggling, rising crime rates, visa challenges, water supply issues, and coastal security.

Naqvi acknowledged that smuggling was rampant until a few months ago, even involving foreign currency like the US dollar, but insisted that the government has taken significant steps over the past two years to curb the illegal practice.

“I am not saying smuggling has ended, but we have controlled it to a great extent. There’s a visible difference between the past and present. You should ask the traders -- this change has made a difference to the economy,” he told reporters.

Action against dollar black market

Naqvi hinted at upcoming operations to crack down on the black market of dollars, assuring that enforcement would be strengthened further.

“You will soon see action against dollar smuggling and black market operations,” he said in response to a question by Samaa TV, while reiterating that smuggling has not been eradicated entirely.

Crime in Karachi and Safe City projects

When questioned about the rising trend of citizens taking the law into their own hands in Karachi, Naqvi remarked that such incidents occur in many parts of the world but maintained that overall crime has declined in Karachi.

He credited this decline to the efforts of local police and ongoing surveillance through the Safe City Project. “The Safe City initiative has already helped reduce crime. Once implemented fully in Karachi, its impact will be even more visible,” Naqvi said.

Coastal security and encroachment

The minister also shed light on Pakistan’s under-resourced coastal defenses, revealing that the country only had six Coast Guard boats despite a 1,020-kilometre coastline. He announced that two more boats have been added and more measures are in the pipeline to strengthen maritime security.

He also held discussions with the army about tackling urban encroachments in Karachi and said the government will now take strict action against illegal occupation of land.

Water crisis

Admitting that successive governments have failed to plan effectively for urban water supply, Naqvi pledged that the federal government will support Karachi in addressing its water crisis. “If Karachi is healthy, then Pakistan is healthy,” he added.

Visa challenges and passport ranking

Speaking on international travel and diplomatic ties, Naqvi acknowledged the growing frustration over visa denials from Gulf countries, including the UAE, Kuwait, and Oman. He promised to raise the issue with relevant ambassadors.

“I know Pakistanis are not getting visas in the UAE. I’m meeting their ambassador the day after tomorrow to find a solution,” Naqvi said.

He also confirmed that work is underway to improve the global ranking of Pakistan’s passport, and shared that while 60 top taxpayers were offered special passports, only 18 accepted the offer.

Peaceful Muharram

Commenting on the security situation during Muharram, Naqvi said the first ten days passed peacefully across Pakistan due to effective coordination with provincial governments. He noted that mobile phone services were only suspended in limited areas, which provided relief to the public.