Smuggled cigarettes continue to flood local markets

ISLAMABAD: Billions of Korea Tomorrow and Global’s (KT&G) Pine brand cigarettes have long been smuggled into Pakistan, most likely from the neighbouring Afghanistan, according to multiple sources. The amount of smuggled Pine cigarettes is so substantial that it prompted the Pakistani authorities to formally complain to the Korean government and KT&G last year and Pakistani embassy officially complained to Ministry of Strategy and Finance to investigate the matter. Korean leading cigarette manufacturing company KT&G has recently signed $0.467 billion tobacco deal with Alokozay, up from $0.449 billion in 2010, while about 5 billion Pine brand cigarettes have been imported annually into the war-torn Afghanistan by Alokozay, and a significant portion is suspected to have crossed the border into Pakistan. According to details, KT&G tobacco maker exports to 45 countries, including four countries in the Middle East - Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq and Iran - through the firm’s regional offices and UAE-based importer Alokozay International. KT&G does not have any official dealers or representative offices in Pakistan. staff report

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