PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced his plan to carve out two districts from the volatile South Waziristan region after settling land disputes among local tribes while addressing a ceremony in Dera Ismail Khan.
Once part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, South Waziristan was among the seven tribal districts that were merged with the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2018.
According to the 2017 census, the region has a total population of 679,185 which occupies 6,619 square kilometers of territory.
South Waziristan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, is also the birthplace of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant network that emerged in 2007.
“Since I am in Dera Ismail Khan, I think it is necessary for me to announce that there is a huge problem in South Waziristan where the Wazir and Mehsud tribes live,” the prime minister told the gathering that was also attended by senior members of the two clans. “They want to divide South Waziristan in two districts and I announce today that we will do it for them. But I have told [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister] Mahmood Khan that we first need to resolve land disputes between them before creating these districts.”
Commenting on the development, Naseerullah Khan Wazir, member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly from South Waziristan district, said it was the right decision, though he added the district should be divided along administrative, not tribal, lines.
“I believe that the demarcation of the two proposed administrative units should be carried out first,” he continued. “The land disputes can be tackled at a later stage amicably. It will also help improve security in the area and result in social development.”
The decision was also applauded by Senator Dost Muhammad Mehsud who endorsed the prime minister’s approach to land disputes as well.
“The settlement of land disputes should be a prerequisite to the demarcation of the two districts,” he said. “If the government manages to resolve the outstanding disputes, it will be in a better position to divide the land.”
The prime minister said his decision would be beneficial for the area’s governance, adding that it would improve service delivery in the two administrative units.
Rehmat Khan, an analyst from South Waziristan who previously served as additional inspector general police, said the government’s plan would improve the security situation of the area.
He added that most government departments had their offices in Tank, a small settlement in South Waziristan, and much of the rest of the area was remotely administered by them.
Khan maintained all the offices of police, judiciary and district administration should be shifted to the proposed administrative units to make things easier for their residents.
“This decision will surely have a positive impact on security and development of the restive region,” he continued. “People living in remote areas face severe problems while trying to reach out to the district administration offices.”
PM Khan announces plan to divide South Waziristan in two districts
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PM Khan announces plan to divide South Waziristan in two districts
- The prime minister asks the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister to help resolve land disputes among local tribes before dividing the region
- Analysts say the decision will be helpful administratively since it will make service delivery easier for government departments
Anti-fuel smuggling drive boosts Pakistan revenues 82%, PM office says
- Crackdown targets illegal petroleum trade using GPS tracking and pump registration
- July–November gains cited as government intensifies tax, customs enforcement
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani prime minister’s office said on Friday revenues from petroleum products rose 82% between July and November 2025 after a nationwide crackdown on fuel smuggling, as the government steps up enforcement to curb tax evasion and losses that have long strained public finances.
The increase was cited during a weekly performance review of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to accelerate action against smuggling and tax evasion, according to a statement issued by the PM’s Office.
Fuel smuggling has been a persistent problem in Pakistan, where subsidised or untaxed petroleum products are often trafficked across borders or sold through unregistered pumps, depriving the state of revenue and distorting domestic energy markets. Successive governments have blamed the practice for billions of rupees in annual losses, while international lenders have repeatedly urged tighter enforcement as part of broader fiscal reforms.
“Every year the nation loses billions due to smuggling,” Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement, praising customs authorities for successful operations and noting that revenues from petroleum products increased by 82% from July to November 2025 compared with the same period last year.
The PM said stricter enforcement had brought several goods back into the formal economy, adding that there would be “no leniency” toward those involved in tax evasion or illegal trade.
Officials briefed the prime minister that Pakistan Customs has rolled out a nationwide enforcement framework, including GPS tracking of petroleum product transportation, registration of fuel stations through a digital monitoring system, and legal action against illegal machinery under updated petroleum laws.
The government has also instructed provincial administrations to cooperate fully with federal authorities in shutting down illegal petrol pumps, the statement said.
Sharif said enforcement efforts would continue until smuggling networks were dismantled and tax compliance improved, as the government seeks to strengthen revenues amid ongoing economic reforms.
Pakistan has struggled for years with weak tax collection and a narrow revenue base, forcing repeated bailouts from the International Monetary Fund. Smuggling of fuel, cigarettes, electronics and consumer goods has been identified by policymakers as a major obstacle to improving revenues and stabilising the economy.
Independent research shows that Pakistan loses an estimated Rs750 billion (about $2.7 billion) annually in tax revenue due to illicit trade and smuggling across sectors such as petroleum, tobacco and pharmaceuticals. Broader analyzes suggest total tax revenue losses linked to the informal economy and smuggling may reach as high as Rs3.4 trillion (around $12.1 billion) a year, roughly a quarter of the government’s annual tax targets.
Smuggled petroleum products alone are thought to cost the state about Rs270 billion (around $960 million) a year in lost revenue, underscoring why authorities have focused recent enforcement efforts on fuel tracking and pump registration.
