Nexus of int’l tobacco companies : Local tobacco industry on verge of extinction

International Tobacco Companies have forged vicious nexus to annihilate the local tobacco industry in Pakistan.
Planning is underway to cause immense harm to the local tobacco growers on the basis of false and concocted reports like Nelson report which is extremely biased and contrary to the facts.
On one hand national economy is being caused colossal loss under tax head by smuggling international brand cigarettes to Pakistan from Afghanistan and on the other side efforts are being employed overtly and covertly to establish monopoly of international tobacco companies in Pakistan.
Illicit cigarette trade accounts for nearly a quarter of the gross trade of the product causing an annual loss of Rs 24 billion to the national exchequer, says a research report.

 

 

http://dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/06-May-16/nexus-of-intl-tobacco-companies-local-tobacco-industry-on-verge-of-extinction