KARACHI: In a major enforcement action targeting the illicit tobacco trade, authorities on Wednesday set ablaze 1.07 million non-duty paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of Rs11m.

According to a press release, the Regional Tax Office-I Karachi destroyed the cigarettes in Gadap Town as part of the broader initiative of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to combat tax evasion.

It said that the operation underscored the government’s commitment to enforcing tax laws and maintaining economic transparency.

While the action aims to curb tax evasion, the market remains flooded with smuggled and locally manufactured non-duty-paid cigarettes.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2025