LATEST ARTICLES

High taxes brew illicit tea trade

KARACHI: Macroeconomic analysts and tea experts warn that the burgeoning illicit tea trade poses both economic and health hazards. High taxes and tariffs on legally-imported tea have made smuggled tea a more attractive option, especially...

‘Pakistan loses Rs10bn annually due to illicit tea trade’

KARACHI: Pakistan is losing Rs10 billion annually in duties and taxes because of the illicit tea trade. Illegal trade is not only causing losses to the government but also creating health issues. Pakistan is one...

Call for curbing illicit cigarette trade

LAHORE: The government must strictly enforce the implementation of the Track and Trace (T&T) System in the cigarette manufacturing sector, which has the potential to generate over 550billions of rupees per annum by curbing...

MNC Exodus: A Crisis of Confidence Fueled by Inconsistent Policies

Pakistan is witnessing an unprecedented exodus of multinational companies, signalling a grave crisis of confidence in its economy. Despite Pakistan's promising market, rich in consumer potential and natural resources, the failure to uphold stable and...

Concerns voiced over delay in TTS implementation

LAHORE: The effective implementation of the Track & Trace System (TTS) has the potential to contribute billions of rupees to the national treasury, which is currently being lost due to illicit trade. However, the implementation...

Illicit Cigarette Manufacturers Exploit Exports Quota to Evade Tax

Karachi, March 28, 2024 – Cigarette manufacturers in Pakistan are finding loopholes in export regulations to evade taxes, causing significant losses to the national exchequer. By falsely declaring their products for export while diverting them...

Increasing FED on Cigarettes has Proven Futile Due to the Surge in Illicit Cigarettes

The increase in FED on cigarettes last year to discourage tobacco consumption has the opposite effect, as the health organizations and the government aimed to bring down consumption of cigarettes, the consumption remains as...

Curbing illicit tobacco trade: a key IMF condition

LAHORE: Experts have suggested that Pakistan has a strategic opportunity to meet conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), enhance tax collection and significantly increase the tax-to-GDP ratio by curbing illicit trade in the tobacco...

Need for combating illicit tobacco trade for economic boost stressed

LAHORE: Emphasising the need for documenting and taxing illicit tobacco transactions, the experts have called for combating illicit tobacco trade for economic boost. As Pakistan gears up for the formation of a new government, the...

High taxes weigh on tobacco industry

LAHORE: The legitimate tobacco industry in Pakistan faces a severe crisis, with heavy taxes on tobacco products leading to a significant decrease in production and substantial tax losses. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, legal...