A recent study by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) has revealed a sharp increase in the sale of illegal and untaxed cigarettes in Pakistan, with over 54% of cigarette brands in the market found to be non-compliant with national tobacco regulations.
According to the findings, 45% of these illegal brands are smuggled from abroad, while 55% are locally produced without paying the required duties.
Alarmingly, only 19 out of 413 cigarette brands available in the market are properly registered and compliant with government regulations.
The report highlights severe gaps in the enforcement of the Track and Trace System (TTS) and Graphical Health Warnings (GHWs), both of which are mandatory under Pakistan’s tobacco control laws.
It also underscores a stark urban-rural divide in regulatory compliance, with 58% non-compliance in rural areas compared to 49% in urban regions, calling for enhanced oversight and enforcement in rural markets where illegal sales are particularly widespread.
This surge in unlawful cigarette sales poses a significant threat not only to public health efforts but also to government tax revenues.
