Ahmad Abdullah, Spokesperson, Stop Illegal Trade (SIT) said on Tuesday that illegal cigarette trade that had grown into a major economic and governance challenge for Pakistan and the tobacco sector. The widespread challenge was controlled by FBR and provincial authorities making a remarkable difference and record confiscations in 2025/26 summing to approximately tantamount to 18-20 billion sticks i.e. approximately 50% of the illicit cigarette market.
He said recent government enforcement actions deserve appreciation, particularly large seizures of non-duty-paid tobacco and cigarette-making materials, as well as efforts to strengthen upstream monitoring and expand seizure powers. Pakistan has never seen this level of enforcement, which can be compared to examples from Italy, Belgium, Poland, United Kingdom and Romania.
Provincial governments are now leveraging these powers to conduct retail-level operations across key distribution hubs, where nontax paid cigarettes remain widely available to consumers.
Speaking at a local event Abdullah said the Pakistan is finally on the right track and now influential personals who control the tax-evading cigarette brands are being brought to justice. Illegal manufacturers have now resorted to maligning tax authorities and mudslinging. He noted that senior tax officials and public reporting have repeatedly placed annual tax evasion in the tobacco sector tax evasion that sums to around Rs 400 billion is now on the recovery path and anti-state elements should refrain from coming in the way.
He urged the Prime Minister and provincial Chief Ministers should keep tabs on enforcement and should encourage provincial police, tax authorities and enforcement bodies to boost their morale.
