ISLAMABAD: Due to a successful operation against illicit and fake cigarettes by the Inland Revenue Enforcement Network (IREN), the FBR decided to continue its working during upcoming budget of 2018-19.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) took strict notice of the tax evasion in the tobacco sector therefore the policymakers of the FBR constituted a special enforcement network titled Inland Revenue Enforcement Network (IREN). The said department was especially formed to address the foreign non-duty-paid/counterfeit brands of the local manufactured non-duty-paid cigarettes dumped by the AJK cigarette manufacturers.
The sources told CT that the main objectives of the IREN is to identify core stakeholders in cigarette/tobacco sector with reference to the tax contribution, evasion of duty and taxes within the tax jurisdiction and revenue generation, developing and implementing strategies to combat the illegal cigarette trade in Pakistan.
It was added that the IREN has strengthened the IR as well as Customs Field Squads and regional enforcement hubs and providing them with legal advice so that they can work more effectively.
To describe the acknowledgement of IREN, the sources said that the FBR should be appreciated for unprecedented crackdown on the illicit trade in cigarettes.
On a successful completion of first year in operation of the IREN in FY2017-18, the IREN seized approximately 1.63billion non-duty-paid cigarette packs and raw material of illicit sector.
