ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Inland Revenue Operations Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed has said that authorities were in process of drafting new rules where-under cigarette brands registered with FBR could only be sold in Pakistani markets.
He expressed these views during his visit to Regional Tax Office (RTO) Rawalpindi on Friday where the tax office had seized two trucks which were illegally transporting non-tax paid counterfeit cigarettes for supply into local market.
The Member said that from July 1, 2021, Track & Trace System would be rolled out to cover tobacco manufacturing across the country, and that AJK Government had approached Federal Board of Revenue to extend the scope of Track & Track System to cigarette manufacturing units located inside AJK territory.
It is expected that over the next few months implementation of Track & Trace System and its extension into AJK, coupled with IREN’s valiant drive would help overcome the menace of counterfeit, illicit and non-tax paid cigarettes in the market.
Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed appreciated Dr. Khalid Mahmood Lodhi, Chief Commissioner, RTO, Rawalpindi and his enforcement drive to curb movement of illicit cigarettes on the roads. He also announced special reward for the members of the raiding squad and encouraged them to continue working with full commitment and integrity.
According to details the trucks were loaded with 300 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes of Classic Brand, and 300 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes of Kissan Brand containing 6 million cigarette sticks. Market value of the seized cigarettes comes to Rs. 18,900,000/- involving unpaid duties and taxes at Rs. 12,646,500/-. Some of the counterfeit cigarette brands are manufactured in AJK, and then transported across into Pakistani markets without payment of duty and taxes.
