Former president of Karachi Customs Agent Association Khurram Ejaz has demanded the government an immediate crackdown on cigarette smuggling.
Talking with 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday he said that the increase in cigarette smuggling will cause an annual loss of Rs300 to Rs350 billion to the national treasury.
He said that prices of cigarettes increased in local market due to taxes and duty which caused decrease in sale of local cigarette and increase in sale of smuggled cigarettes.
He said that the cigarettes available in the market are substandard.
The main reason for the increase in taxes and duty was to reduce the consumption of cigarettes, he added.
He stressed that customs authorities and other regulatory authorities have to take strict action against cigarette smuggling.
The government is getting less tax and duty due to less local cigarette sales, he said.
Reporter: Ashraf Khan