Concern is growing among parents and residents in Rawalpindi over the increasing use of drugs among underage children.
The use of harmful substances, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vapes), and other illegal narcotic substances, is reportedly rising among minors.
Some students secretly bring vapes and other substances into schools, influencing their peers.
Enforcement actions against tax-evading cigarette manufacturers are allegedly being thwarted by political pressure.
Field officers in several regions are reluctant to pursue cases involving cigarette manufacturers due to alleged political backing.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is experiencing increased enforcement risk due to political influence.
A Senate subcommittee session focused on probing alleged theft of confiscated cigarettes from warehouses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During inspections, enforcement teams identified large quantities of allegedly undocumented raw tobacco.
In recent months, authorities seized 1,262 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and billions worth of non-duty-paid goods and raw materials.
Parents have called for a ban on the underage sale of such materials and products.
Some political figures are piling pressure on field formations to steer clear of these cases. Enforcement behavior in the field has changed—some officers are increasingly cautious about taking action in politically sensitive cases involving the cigarette industry.
