Illicit cigarettes’ consumption increases due to heavy taxes: NGO LAHORE: With increase in taxes on legal cigarette manufacturers, the illicit tobacco trade and consumption have increased significantly and the smokers switched to cheaper, tax-evaded brands following the imposition of FED last year. “About 62.4% of smokers are preferring brands priced
Cigarette price hike fuels illicit trade, undermines public health efforts in Pakistan Karachi, 2024: Despite the government’s efforts to curb tobacco consumption through price increases, a recent study has revealed a significant shift towards cheaper, tax-evaded cigarette brands, undermining public health initiatives and revenue collection. Around 89% respondents of the
High tobacco tax boosts black market ISLAMABAD: The government's 154 percent increase in federal excise duty (FED) on cigarettes has backfired, driving consumers to cheaper, tax-evaded brands and fueling the growth of the illicit cigarette trade. The higher taxes have spurred a rise in the purchase of low-priced and illegal
The hidden costs of Pakistan's crackdown on Iranian oil smuggling After the U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran in 2013 to cut oil exports, the smuggling of Iranian petroleum products has become an entrenched part of its ailing economy. The smuggling of fuel and goods has been going for decades through
Smuggling of oil costs Pakistan $35.6m per day Pakistan is facing a loss of around $35.6 million on a daily basis owing to the smuggling of around 4,000 tonnes of oil, ARY News reported, citing an oil companies association. The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), a representative body of oil
Illegal import of fruit and vegetables affecting Balochistan farmers ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers from Balochistan on Wednesday requested the government to block the illegally import of fruits and vegetables from Afghanistan, Iran and India as it was affecting the local farmers especially in Balochistan. In the backdrop of the smuggling of vegetables
PTA initiates phone identification system to combat counterfeit devices The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Saturday initiated the Device Identification Registration & Blocking System (DIRBS) system to combat use of “counterfeit mobile phone usage, discourage mobile phones theft and protect consumer interest”.“DIRBS is a forward working solution and is designed
Exclusion/adjustment Certificates issued to Steel Industry: FBR suffers huge Revenue Loss ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has suffered a huge revenue loss on account of exclusion/adjustment certificates issued to the steel units by the commissioners for not charging sales tax on power consumption against cheques which were never
