The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan’s federal tax authority, destroyed non-tax-paid cigarettes and tobacco worth Rs570 million in Sukkur on Friday, in one of its latest FBR illicit cigarette raids in Sindh.
The Regional Tax Office (RTO) Sukkur seized the stock and set it on fire. Officials said the cigarettes had not had the required taxes paid. The destruction was supervised by Commissioner Mumtaz Ahmed Thebo and other officers.
What the Sukkur operation covered
According to FBR officers, the Friday blaze followed special directives from Chief Commissioner Zigham Abbas. A special team headed by Inland Revenue Officer Abdul Majeed Sangi carried out the fieldwork.
The stock destroyed was described as illegal cigarettes and tobacco valued at Rs570 million. RTO Sukkur said the action was meant to stop untaxed tobacco products from entering the market.
Raids over the past two months
FBR illicit cigarette raids in the Sukkur region have continued for about two months. In that period, officers said they conducted 11 operations and seized 1,644 cartons of illegal cigarettes.
Those seized cigarettes were valued at an estimated Rs210 million. Separately, officials said they detected tax evasion of Rs367 million under Sales Tax (a levy on the sale of goods) and Federal Excise Duty (a federal tax on selected goods, including tobacco products).
What FBR officials say next
Chief Commissioner Zigham Abbas said the board has a zero-tolerance policy on tax evasion and tax defaulters. He said action will continue against those who cause loss to the national exchequer.
He added that the sale of illegal cigarettes hurts national revenue and creates difficulties for legal businesses. “We will take stricter actions to end tax evasion and protect the national exchequer,” Abbas said.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Past two months: RTO Sukkur conducted 11 operations against illegal cigarettes.
- Past two months: Officers seized 1,644 cartons of illegal cigarettes, valued at about Rs210 million.
- Past two months: Tax evasion of Rs367 million was detected under Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty.
- Friday, 30 October: FBR destroyed non-tax-paid cigarettes and tobacco worth Rs570 million in Sukkur under Abbas’s directives.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Sukkur mein FBR ne wo cigarettein aur tobacco jala diya hai jin par tax nahi diya gaya tha. Inki qeemat lagbhag 570 million rupay batayi gayi hai. Pichhle do mahinon mein 11 operations mein 1,644 carton illegal cigarettes pakri gayeen, jinki qeemat lagbhag 210 million rupay hai. FBR ke mutabiq Sales Tax aur Federal Excise Duty ke under 367 million rupay ka tax evasion detect hua, aur legal business ko bhi mushkil hoti hai.
