The Spokesperson for Stop Illegal Trade (SIT), Ahmad Abdullah stated on Tuesday that the illegal cigarette trade has escalated into a significant economic and governance issue for Pakistan and its tobacco industry.
The extensive challenge is being addressed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and provincial authorities, who have made a notable impact with record confiscations in 2025/26, amounting to approximately 18-20 billion sticks, which represents around 50% of the illicit cigarette market.
He expressed that the recent enforcement actions by the government deserve applause especially the major seizures of non-duty-paid tobacco and materials for cigarette production, along with initiatives to improve upstream monitoring and broaden seizure authority.
Pakistan has never experienced such a level of enforcement, which can be likened to practices in Italy, Belgium, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Romania.
He called upon the Prime Minister and provincial Chief Ministers to monitor enforcement efforts and to motivate provincial police, tax authorities, and enforcement agencies to elevate their morale.
Provincial govts launch crackdown on non-tax paid cigarettes
Provincial governments are now using these powers to carry out operations at the retail level across major distribution centers, where non-tax paid cigarettes are still readily accessible to consumers through illegal trade.
During a local event, Abdullah remarked that Pakistan is finally progressing in the right direction, as influential individuals who manage tax-evading cigarette brands are being held accountable.
He pointed out that senior tax officials and public disclosures have consistently indicated that the annual tax evasion within the tobacco sector, estimated at around Rs 400 billion, is now on a path to recovery, and anti-state elements should refrain from halting this process.
