PM directs for track, trace system in cigarette manufacturing units

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to install trace and track system in all the cigarette manufacturing units of the country within the next two weeks to control tax evasion, ARY News reported quoting state news agency.

Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad today, the prime minister directed to install automatic track and trace system within two weeks in all cigarette factories across the country.

During the meeting, the prime minister also directed the law enforcement agencies to provide all possible cooperation to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to control smuggling and illegal sale of cigarettes.

PM Shehbaz also directed for fixing of responsibility against the relevant authorities for their failure to install auto track and trace system on sugar mills and sought an inquiry report in this regard.

The meeting was apprised in detail of the track and trace system. The system was installed in majority of the cigarette manufacturing units while the installation work was in progress on the remaining ones.

The negotiations for installation of the system in the cigarette manufacturing units in Azad Jammu Kashmir were in the final stages. The meeting was further informed about the steps taken by FBR to control smuggling and illegal sale of cigarette.

The prime minister was apprised that FBR had brought 0.7 million new taxpayers under the tax net and taking further steps to meet its targets in the current year

The prime minister stressed that tax evaders and their agents should be brought to book because those elements who embezzled wealth of the country and nation did not deserve any leniency.

The prime minister also sought a report within two weeks over the positive steps in this regard.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Murtaza Mehmood, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarrar, PM’s advisor Ahad Khan Cheema, PM’s Special Assistants Jahanzaib Khan, Tariq Pasha and other senior officials.