IREN Of RTO Rawalpindi Confiscates Counterfeit Cigarettes

Umer Jamshaid Published April 18, 2021 | 03:20 PM

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2021 ) :Inland Revenue Enforcement Network (IREN) Squad of Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi, in a major counter-evasion operation, has seized two trucks which were illegally transporting non-tax paid counterfeit cigarettes for supply into local market.

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, said a press release issued by FBR here .

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.

Member (Inland Revenue Operations) Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed visited RTO, Rawalpindi and met the senior officers as well as the members of the raiding squad.

He also 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.

The Member also apprised the RTO, Rawalpindi IREN staff that from July 1, 2021, Track and 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 and Track System to cigarette manufacturing units located inside AJK territory.

The Member further stated that FBR was in the process of drafting new rules where-under cigarette brands registered with FBR could only be sold in Pakistani markets.

It is expected that over the next few months implementation of Track and Trace System and its extension into AJK, coupled with IREN's valiant drive would help overcome the menace of counterfeit, illegal and non-tax paid cigarettes in the market.