ISLAMABAD: A research report released by Act Alliance Pakistan has raised concerns over the alleged smuggling of foreign cigarette brands into Pakistan, claiming that illegal tobacco trade continues to cause significant revenue losses and poses challenges for law enforcement.
According to the report, illegal cigarette brands, including Milano and Mond, are allegedly smuggled into Pakistan through routes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border before being distributed to markets across the country through organized supply networks.
The report alleges that the smuggling network relies on multiple transportation methods and claims that illegal trade contributes to tax evasion and financial losses for the national economy.
According to Act Alliance Research, Gulbahar Tobacco Company currently has cigarette factories in Dubai and Russia. The Habibi family, from Afghanistan, owns Gulbahar Tobacco Company.
The Habibi family, which owns Gulbahar Tobacco Company, is from Jalalabad. The Habibi family has businesses in Afghanistan, Dubai, Europe, the UK, Russia and Pakistan.
Gulbahar Group of Companies includes Gulbahar Tobacco, Gulbahar Trading, Gulbahar Hotel, Gulbahar Investment, Adri International Tobacco. Gulbahar Group is investing in the cement industry, dam construction, petroleum transportation, real estate in Afghanistan, and research further stated.
Gulbahar Tobacco Group is also investing in residential and commercial projects in Kabul worth $8 billion to 11,000 acres. Gulbahar Tobacco Group has built a cement factory in Herat, Afghanistan, with an investment of $142 million.
Moreover, Gulbahar Tobacco Group is building a hydropower project in Parwan province, Afghanistan with an investment of $500 million, the company is also building a hydropower project in Parwan province, Afghanistan with an investment of $500 million.
The Gulbahar Group is also allegedly providing financial and technical support to the Afghan army in various projects, according to Act Alliance Research.
Pakistan has a sophisticated network for smuggling Milano and Mond cigarette brands manufactured by the Gulbahar Group. These illegal cigarettes are transported to Balochistan from Afghanistan through various mountain routes.
These smuggled cigarettes are being transported to all citizens of the country through the road from Balochistan. The Afghan family in question has a wide network up to the retail level in every city of Pakistan.
The smuggled cigarettes are also being transported to the markets under the guise of delivering energy drinks.
A system for delivering branded cigarettes owned by the Afghan family has been established in every city of Pakistan.
Additionally, several Afghan groups and youth of Afghan origin are involved in the smuggling of these illegal cigarettes.
Every month, billions of rupees are being transferred from Pakistan to Afghanistan through the illegal sale of these branded cigarettes through money laundering.
Smuggled cigarettes, especially those owned by Afghan families, are causing huge damage to the Pakistani economy. This smuggling network can also pose serious threats to Pakistan’s national security.
These cigarettes are smuggled along with various goods through the mountainous routes connected to Afghanistan using trucks, small vehicles, and donkeys.
These smuggled cigarettes are transported from Balochistan to the rest of the cities of the country using buses, trucks, and small cars. Recently, a private security company van was caught smuggling cigarettes worth crores of rupees. Research
Afghan smuggled cigarettes can also be transported from one city to another by ambulance. Research concluded.
