MANSEHRA: The district administration on Tuesday seized a huge quantity of fake and unstamped cigarettes sold in markets to evade tax in Balakot and its suburbs.
“We have launched a crackdown against fake and unregistered cigarette packets being sold in markets to evade taxes,” Assistant Commissioner, Balakot, Hasrat Khan told reporters.He said that a team of the tehsil administration and police, led by him, raided warehouses at the order of Deputy Commissioner Mansehra and seized a large quantity of cigarettes being sold without tax stamps or trademarks.
“These seized consignments of cigarettes will be handed over to the excise and taxation department,” Hasrat Khan said. The assistant commissioner said that the government had zero tolerance for such companies and consignments circulating in markets to evade taxes, adding that the crackdown would continue until all such goods were seized.
“We have also warned shopkeepers and vendors of strict legal action if they are found involved in selling such unregistered and unstamped cigarettes in the future,” Hasrat Khan maintained.
Meanwhile, the Shinkiari traffic police have launched a crackdown against transporters charging extra fares from passengers on various routes.They fined dozens of vehicles during the crackdown and warned several others.
According to traffic wardens, the Regional Transport Authority had not increased fares, but transporters were still overcharging passengers.“Passengers who are overcharged by transporters should approach the police for strict legal action,” a traffic warden said.
