After nearly 36 years, the federal government has finally approved a reward of Rs 84.809 million for Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) for intercepting a 25kg gold smuggling attempt near Narowal in 1989, as reported by Business Recorder.
This reward, equal to 15% of the gold’s value at the time of its deposit in the national treasury, comes after overcoming prolonged legal and procedural delays. The confiscated gold, valued at Rs 565.4 million, had been handed over to the State Bank of Pakistan shortly after the seizure on May 27, 1989. However, the compensation owed to the Rangers remained pending for decades.
Reward Sanctioned Under Customs Rules
The payout was approved under the Customs Reward Rules 2012, which allow a share of seized goods’ value to be awarded to those responsible for the interception. The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Law & Justice jointly reviewed and supported the proposal, which then received final approval from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet.
READ MORE: IMF Raises Concerns Over Pakistan’s Budget Targets
To Be Paid to Individuals or Legal Heirs
The Ministry of Interior and National Coordination has pledged to prevent such delays in the future and ensure prompt payment to eligible personnel. The ECC emphasized that the reward should be distributed to the individuals listed in the original report or, if deceased, to their legal heirs according to the Customs Reward Rules.
This long-overdue payment not only recognizes the dedication of Pakistan Rangers in combating smuggling but also sets a precedent for fair acknowledgment of law enforcement contributions to national security.
