According to the Middle Eastern news media ARY NEWS on April 22nd, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan has launched a nationwide campaign to crack down on untaxed and counterfeit cigarettes. In this operation, the FBR team conducted temporary inspections on a total of 4,652 retailers and closed 33 shops suspected of illegal tobacco trading.
The Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and members of the Internal Revenue (IR) Action Team commended the dedication and efforts of 204 teams (comprising a total of 1047 individuals) who actively participated in the enforcement operation. The FBR Chairman emphasized the IR's proactive stance in cracking down on illegal tobacco trade. Despite facing challenges such as limited resources and logistics, the domestic reinforcement network remains steadfast in its efforts, the FBR Chairman pointed out.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has ordered action against illegal cigarette factories. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has expressed its commitment to taking decisive action against illegal trading and tax evaders, pledging to take strict measures. Additionally, the FBR has announced plans to intensify crackdowns in the next phase, with a focus on capturing repeat offenders.
In January 2020, Pakistan Tobacco Company had a market share of 4.8 billion cigarettes. However, by February, the company's market share had decreased to 2.6 billion cigarettes, further dropping to 1.8 billion cigarettes in March.
In the past month, the market share of illegal cigarettes has increased to 39% in the last two months, and in the Pakistani market, the supply of smuggled cigarettes has increased by 200%. According to the Pakistan Tobacco Company, in the past two months, up to 70 varieties of smuggled cigarette brands have entered the market, with the market share of illegal cigarettes increasing to 39%.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
