The revelation of the sale of counterfeit cigarettes of various brands in the country has exposed the national treasury to an annual loss of Rs. 5.7 billion. Private tobacco companies are urging the government to take effective action on the Track and Trace System to gain control over the illegal cigarette market. In a media briefing, Tariq Qasim, a senior officer of Private Tobacco Company, expressed strong reservations about the challenges presented to the tobacco industry and the lack of enforcement of laws by the government. He called for robust measures to be taken to curb the illegal sale of cigarettes. Qasim revealed that the sale of 85 crore counterfeit cigarettes is ongoing in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. In the last five months, the legal cigarette sector has witnessed a decline of up to 40% in production, while the market share of those involved in the illegal, smuggled, and counterfeit cigarette trade continues to grow.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)