SWABI: Small cigarette manufacturers and tobacco traders on Tuesday urged the federal government to create a mechanism to stop smuggling of foreign cigarette brands to protect the interests of local growers.
They made the demand at a gathering, which was attended by representatives and leaders of small cigarette manufacturers, business community, farmers and their union leaders.
The event was held under the auspices of Tobacco Action Committee Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
At the gathering, the traders discussed ways to stop the illegal business of cigarettes and protect the interests of farmers and business community.
They argued that the smuggling caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer and local industry every year. The traders and farmers asked the government to take steps to stop the illegal cigarette trade and punish those who were undermining tobacco growers’ interests.
Patron-in-chief of the committee Bakhat Sher asked tobacco traders and small cigarette manufacturers to show unity in the coming purchasing season. He added the tobacco cultivators and business community would face difficulties if they did not plan properly.
“Multinational companies that buy tobacco don’t need any help from anyone as they have a perfect mechanism to conduct business and earn billions of rupees every year,” he said.
He said the trader community and small cigarette manufacturers were in deep trouble at present and if the entrepreneurs and farmers failed to put their heads together they will face a host of problems.
Abad Khan, president of the committee, said that they would have to continue their joint struggle until they achieved their goals.
“We need to work hard as it seems that an environment has been created in which the survival of small companies and the traders would be very difficult,” he noted with concern. Iqbal Khan Shewa, senior vice-president of committee, said that the Federal Board of Revenue should play its due role in curbing the illegal cigarette business.
Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2026
