Fake cigarettes factory sparks concerns

Head emphasises detrimental impact of counterfeit tobacco products on public health and economy

ISLAMABAD:

The recent discovery of a fake cigarette manufacturing factory in the Jhangi Syedan, Rawalpindi, has raised significant concerns regarding the illicit activities of the tobacco industry.

The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) addressed the broader implications of this disturbing revelation. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) Country Head Malik Imran Ahmed stated that the existence of such clandestine operations underscored the insidious tactics employed by the tobacco industry to evade regulations and profit at the expense of public health and economic stability. The production and distribution of counterfeit cigarettes represented a tactic by the tobacco industry to confuse the government and compel them to lower taxation on tobacco products. Whether taxation was lowered or not, the industry benefited, leaving the people of Pakistan at a loss, said in a press release issued on Friday.

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Malik Imran emphasised the detrimental impact of counterfeit tobacco products on public health and the economy. He stressed the urgent need for heightened vigilance and enforcement measures to thwart the tobacco industry's deceptive practices and protect the well-being of communities across Pakistan.

SPARC Programme Manager Dr Khalil Ahmad Dogar condemned the tobacco industry for its relentless pursuit of profits at the expense of public health.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2024.