KARACHI: Philip Morris Pakistan Limited has welcomed nationwide enforcement actions against illicit cigarette trade, saying the crackdown would support the documented economy, improve revenue recovery and create fair competition for tax-compliant businesses.
The company, in a statement on Thursday, said enforcement operations during 2025-26 resulted in the confiscation of illicit cigarettes and raw materials equivalent to around 17 billion cigarette sticks, representing nearly 40 per cent of the illegal cigarette market.
PMPKL said strategic guidance from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Federal Board of Revenue and provincial authorities had accelerated action against non-duty-paid cigarettes and illegal trade activities.
During his recent visit to Pakistan, Marco Mariotti, president CIS and Central Asia at Philip Morris International, said that the enforcement measures reflected a strong institutional commitment to tackling illicit trade and strengthening market compliance.
“Sustained enforcement remains essential for improving revenue collection, transparency and supporting Pakistan’s broader economic objectives,” he said.The company noted that illicit cigarette trade causes estimated annual revenue losses of around Rs300 billion to the national exchequer and said Pakistan’s enforcement efforts were in line with anti-illicit trade measures adopted in several European markets.
