ISLAMABAD, April 20: Pakistan Tobacco Company PTC) has earned an operating profit of Rs2.4 billion in the year 2005, the highest ever since its inception.

This was announced during the company’s annual general meeting held here on Thursday. The company also achieved the position of market volume leadership after many years.

According to an announcement, the meeting was informed that a substantial rise was achieved in profits, before and after tax over the year 2004. The operating profit showed 65 per cent increase over the previous year. Profit after tax grew 99 per cent over the previous year. The company also made a contribution of Rs19.1 billion to the national exchequer, an impressive increase over the last year. It also achieved 14 per cent growth in volume sales.