ISLAMABAD: In line with the vision of Prime Minister to curb the menace of counterfeit/illicit tobacco trade, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Muhammad Javed Ghani urged the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue to speed up the enforcement measures to combat the trade of counterfeit and non duty paid cigarettes.

In this connection, Director General of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue, Dr Bashir Ullah Khan Marwat, here on Thursday issued stringent directives to expedite the enforcement measures against the trade of counterfeit cigarettes.

Through the intelligence network of Directorate General of

Intelligence and Investigation-IR on Thursday, the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue, Islamabad’s team intercepted vehicle No. C-1303 at Buharn Interchange of Motorway. During search 300 packrites (3,000,000 sticks) of three local brands of cigarettes valuing more than Rs20 million were found. On inquiry it was also found FED amounting to Rs4.95 million and Sales Tax amounting to Rs1.678 was not deposited in Government Exchequer against supplies of aforesaid cigarettes. The Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue, Islamabad confiscated the cigarettes and for recovery of due taxes mandatory legal proceedings are underway.

The Director General appreciated the efforts of the team under supervision of Director Islamabad, Zafar Iqbal Khan and his team members Riaz Muhammad, Additional Director and Suhail Abbas, Deputy Director along with squad specifically constituted for this purpose. The campaign against illicit tobacco trade has been given top priority and all the Directorates of Intelligence and investigation-Inland Revenue are simultaneously conducting raids with seizure.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021