While regulators tighten the noose around Pakistan’s formal tobacco sector, the real threat is expanding in plain sight. Illicit cigarette brands—untaxed, unregulated, and widely available—have captured more than half the market. They pay nothing, follow no rules, and yet continue to grow. The law is chasing what is visible, not what is dangerous. The formal industry, despite contributing nearly Rs270 billion in taxes each year, now controls only 46 percent of the market. The remaining share belongs to illegal operators selling cigarettes at a fraction of legal prices. This thriving…
Read MoreRs415 billion in losses raise alarms over tobacco enforcement
