RTO Gujranwala Recovers 25 Cartons of Smuggled Cigarettes Worth Over Rs. 2 Million

GUJRANWALA: The IREN Lahore Hub Team of Regional Tax Office (RTO) Gujranwala, under the supervision of ACIR Owais Shafqat, conducted an operation against the sale of non-duty-paid and non-tax-paid cigarettes at a warehouse in Dharam Kot, Gujranwala.

During the operation, the team recovered approximately 25 cartons of smuggled cigarettes that did not carry the mandatory tax barcode stickers. The recovered brands included Honda, Public, Capital Gold and Melburn.

According to officials, the recovered cigarettes have an estimated market value of Rs. 2,028,125, while the taxes payable on the seized stock amount to approximately Rs. 1,627,565.

The recovered stock has been shifted to the RTO Gujranwala office for further legal proceedings.

Chief Commissioner RTO Gujranwala Khalid Jamil said that individuals involved in the sale of cigarettes without payment of applicable taxes, as well as other elements engaged in such illegal practices, were acting against the national interest and causing serious damage to the country’s tax system.

He directed that strict action be taken against those involved in the illegal trade and made it clear that no political recommendation or pressure of any kind would be entertained in the matter.