PESHAWAR/MARDAN: The officials of Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (Land Revenue) on Tuesday burnt a huge cache of non-duty paid and counterfeit cigarette and other items in Peshawar and Mardan.

The directorate had seized 10.15 million of cigarettes sticks during July 2017 to December 2017 in Peshawar under the Federal Excise Act, 2005.

The value of the confiscated cigarettes was more than Rs30 million.

The cigarettes included local brands. Besides cigarettes, 11,520 litres of beverages were also destroyed.

The directorate said that all cigarettes were deadly but counterfeits were the worst. These cigarettes may have uncontrolled dangerous chemicals and ingredients far greater than the genuine cigarettes posing serious health risks.

Likewise, counterfeit beverages also pose serious health risks due to unhygienic conditions of uncontrolled and unregistered manufactured premises.

Director General of Intelligence and Investigation (Inland Revenue) Islamabad Shad Mohammad was also present on the occasion, said a press release.

In Mardan, relevant officials set on fire substandard cigarettes and destroyed beverages and other health hazard liquids.

Speaking on the occasion, Shad Mohammad said that 10.15 million cigarettes and 7,680 counterfeit bottles of beverages containing 11,520 litres of hazardous liquids were destroyed.

He said that the goods had been seized during patrolling as well as intelligence based operations. He said that Mardan office of the directorate was established in February 2017 for carrying out field operations in Mardan, Sawbi, Nowshera and Charsadda districts.

Shad Mohammad said that the Mardan office showed good performance within a short span of time by seizing such huge illegal items. He asked head of the office to tackle the issue of income tax investigation in the area.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2018