From: MoreNews.pk
Pakistan is bearing a loss of billions of rupees in annual excise revenue due to large scale and organized smuggling of popular cigarette brands in Pakistan via Afghanistan. According to a report by Farmers Welfare Association, the economy faces an annual loss of more than Rs.24 billion due to illicit cigarette trade.
The use of foreign brands of the cigarette like Benson & Hedges, Marlboro, Dunhill, and Pine is increasing among Pakistani youth. The varieties and quality of these brands are better than the locally manufactured, and more importantly they have become a status symbol. Even those who are supposed to take action against are themselves said to be smokers of foreign brands. These international brands are easily obtainable from markets even after the ban on import of cigarettes. So, of course, the available product is smuggled!
