February 11, 2022: Building on its momentum to maximize tax compliance, the Federal Board of Revenue’s Inland Revenue Enforcement Network (IREN) Squads, has seized 93.52 million illegal cigarettes worth Rs225.38mn involving duties and taxes of Rs184mn in the seven months of FY 2021-22.
Likewise, during the month of January 2022, IREN has seized non-duty / tax paid cigarettes of Rs29.7mn (approximately 13mn sticks) resulting in detection of evasion of duties and taxes worth Rs27.7mn.
It is pertinent to mention that IREN was established in September 2019 with a Chief Coordinator, Central Field Coordinator and seven regional enforcement hubs all across Pakistan, tasked to conduct raids and seizures on the counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes. As a part of the ongoing crackdown against illicit cigarette trade countrywide, all IREN hubs have intensified their operation against businesses dealing in non-duty paid and counterfeit cigarettes to save the national exchequer from revenue loss.
Moreover, IREN has also been entrusted to ensure its enforcement in the entire supply chain of the Sugar Industry. For this purpose, the Chief Coordinator IREN and his Regional Enforcement Squads across Pakistan are geared to conduct raids and ensure seizures on the non-tax paid sugar stocks, which move out of the factory premises/warehouses without tax stamps.
As a result, IREN Squads have intensified their operations in every nook and corner of the country, against the non-compliant supply chain operators dealing in the sugar sector in order to maximize revenue potential.
Mr Shaukat Fayaz Tarin, Minister for Finance & Revenue has appreciated the performance of IREN Squads and announced a cash reward for those officers, who conducted successful raids.
He stated that Track & Trace system coupled with IREN’s valiant drive would help overcome the menace of non-tax paid goods in the market.
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