LAHORE: The Punjab Excise Department has seized 86,018 packets of illegal cigarettes in a province-wide crackdown launched on the instructions of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The operation, conducted across all major divisions of Punjab, targeted non-branded cigarettes and packets without barcodes-items that officials say are central to the illicit tobacco economy that has expanded across the province in recent years.
The FBR, which is primarily responsible for curbing illegal cigarette trade at the national level, formally requested the Punjab Excise Department and the provincial Revenue Department to take action against groups involved in the sale and distribution of such products. Following the crackdown, the FBR lauded the Excise Department’s performance and praised the leadership of Secretary Excise Masood Mukhtar and Director General Excise Umer Sher Chatha, acknowledging their “commendable role” in supervising and supporting the entire operation. Officials said their oversight ensured swift coordination, transparency and strict adherence to enforcement protocols.
Official data shows that Bahawalpur recorded the highest seizures with 29,787 packets, followed by Gujrat with 12,462, Gujranwala with 8,788, Rawalpindi with 8,032, and the three Lahore regions collectively with over 12,000 packets. Other divisions, including Sargodha, Sahiwal, Multan, DG Khan and Faisalabad, also made significant recoveries.
The confiscated stock included non-duty-paid cigarettes, unregistered brands and packets missing mandatory tax stamps and government-issued barcodes.
The operation was conducted under the Tobacco Act of 1958, which authorises the Punjab Excise Department to arrest anyone selling tobacco without a licence and empowers the department to confiscate non-branded cigarettes. Under the law, all seized products must be handed over to the FBR. Officials said the Sales Tax Department of the FBR will receive the confiscated goods on a prescribed proforma and will pursue legal action against the individuals and companies involved.
Director Excise Department Lahore Shahid Gilani, while speaking to Jang, said the drive reflects an unprecedented level of coordination between the provincial and federal authorities.
“This operation shows our strong commitment to stopping illegal tobacco trade in Punjab.
Our teams worked tirelessly across all regions, and we maintained close contact with the FBR throughout the process,” he said.
Gilani added that the department would continue its enforcement efforts and would not allow illegal cigarette networks to undermine public revenue.
Officials confirmed that FBR focal persons remained in regular communication with Excise teams during the operation to ensure accurate documentation and smooth legal processing. Authorities said more intelligence-based actions are being planned, as the government moves to tighten its grip on the illicit cigarette market.
Seen as one of the most extensive tobacco-related enforcement actions in recent years, the crackdown marks a major step towards protecting government revenue, regulating the market and dismantling networks involved in the sale of counterfeit and non-branded cigarettes across Punjab.
