PESHAWAR: A huge quantity of smuggled cigarettes of different brands worth millions of rupees was put on fire here on Tuesday.

Chief commissioner Regional Tax Office Sardar Ali Khwaja and officials of the customs department oversaw torching of the non-duty paid cigarettes, according to a statement issued here.

The RTO chief expressed his determination to curb movement of smuggled goods.

An official of the customs department said a total of 1,090 cartons of seized cigarettes worth over Rs30 million were set on fire.

He said the department had adopted scientific methods to tight noose around the smugglers. He said owing to these measures the smugglers were now on the run.

The official said the anti-smuggling squad during its successful actions had frustrated scores of smuggling attempts and seized huge quantity of smuggled goods.

On the occasion, the RTO chief asked every Pakistani to file his or her tax returns well in time to avoid any legal action.

Director intelligence Abid Mehmood and regional commissioner FBR Arbab Tariq were also among those present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2020