Encouraging illicit-trade informers

The Pakistan Inland Revenue’s Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation has issued a toll-free number, 0800-77377, through which people can inform on the illicit cigarette trade.

The service will be available from 08.00 hours to 17.00 hours daily.

A directorate official said people could inform on the storage or sale of illegal cigarettes using the toll-free number.

“Once the identity of the caller is verified, we’ll send a team to raid the place where such cigarettes are stored or sold,” he said.

“The team can seize stocks and impose fine[s] and even imprison their owners.”

According to the official, the identity of callers will be kept secret.

The directorate is hoping to crack down on the sale of local non-duty-paid and smuggled cigarettes.