The illicit purchase and sale of cigarettes resulted in tax evasion of 8 billion rupees, which has drawn the severe attention of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to reports, the Prime Minister received a briefing on the illicit buying and selling of cigarettes from representatives of the Federal Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance. He will also receive a monthly report on the steps done to combat it.
According to the sources, the Prime Minister has ordered the FBR to put track and trace systems in place at all cigarette manufacturers and directed action against illegal cigarette factories.
Raids on illegal cigarette facilities will be conducted by the FBR’s Anti-Smuggling Unit, and a report on the action performed against illegal cigarettes will also be given to the IMF.
More than a dozen cigarette manufacturing firms, according to sources, have not yet been added to the track and trace system.
