ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to enhance bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking and narcotics smuggling, Pakistan’s interior ministry said on Saturday.
The memorandum of understanding was signed during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed.
Under the agreement, the two countries pledged closer cooperation to curb the illegal transportation, smuggling and sale of narcotics, while strengthening coordination between anti-drug agencies.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s interior ministry, both sides agreed to formulate a joint strategy aimed at dismantling drug supply chains and illegal trafficking networks.
The agreement also provides for the establishment of a secretary-level joint working group between the two interior ministries to improve institutional coordination and intelligence-sharing.
Relevant agencies from both countries will exchange timely information regarding drug traffickers and smuggling operations, the statement added.
The two sides further agreed to cooperate in personnel training, the use of modern technology and the exchange of best practices in narcotics prevention and law enforcement.
During the meeting, Naqvi also offered Bangladesh full cooperation in the development of Safe City projects, saying Pakistan would support Dhaka’s efforts “in every possible way.”
The ministers discussed expanding collaboration in internal security, counterterrorism, training of civil armed forces and measures to combat human trafficking.
Officials also exchanged views on cooperation against cybercrime, organised crime and financial fraud, in addition to training programmes for law enforcement personnel at police academies.
Naqvi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to visit Pakistan during the talks.
Senior Bangladeshi officials attending the meeting included Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and Interior Secretary Mansur Chowdhury, along with Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider.
