A recent survey conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) has found that 54 percent of cigarettes sold in Pakistan are illegal due to the absence of required tax stamps under the track and trace system.

The study, which covered 19 districts, identified 413 cigarette brands, none of which were registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Only 19 brands had tax stamps, while 286 brands lacked both the approved health warnings and the necessary tax stamps.

Despite the law mandating pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs since 2009, only 95 brands were found to comply, with the majority continuing to be sold without proper labeling. The track and trace system, introduced in 2021 to curb tax evasion in the tobacco industry, has shown most brands to be non-compliant.

The survey also revealed that 332 cigarette brands are being sold below the government-mandated minimum price of Rs. 162.25 per pack. Additionally, 45 percent of the cigarette products available at points of sale are smuggled, and 286 brands are being sold without the track and trace stamp across the country.

The survey noted that the cheapest pack of cigarettes costs Rs. 40.