Tobacco Asia

46 tobaccoasia MANUFACTURING NEWS 制造新闻 We'd like to let you in on an industry secret You can view the latest issue of TOBACCO ASIA magazine and TOBACCO ASIA's archived issues and searchable content at www.tobaccoasia.com The company operates the facility in the Lochinvar industrial area, where it processes tobacco as part of Zimba- bwe's efforts to expand local value addition and strengthen its position in the global tobacco industry. CRP spokesperson Santana Bruins said the plant has delivered results in line with expectations despite the challenges that typically accompany the launch of a new processing facility. "We are pleased to report that the plant has been performing in line with the targets we set at the time of commissioning," she said. "While we are not in a position to share specific production figures for competitive reasons, we can confirm that operations have progressed as planned." According to Bruins, the company spent the first months after commissioning focused on establish- ing stable operations and building momentum. CRP identified volume growth as its top priority as it seeks to expand its business. "Our primary focus, and our primary challenge, is volume growth. Growing the volume of tobacco we process is the engine that drives everything else, and this remains the central priority for our leadership and commercial teams," Bruins said. The company said it has achieved the objectives it established for this stage of development and intends to continue expanding its operations. Bruins also emphasized that growth is central to CRP's long-term vision and management continuous to evaluate opportunities to scale up operations. Pakistan: FBR Tightens Enforcement on Manufacturers Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) stepped up enforcement efforts against tax evasion in the cigarette sector during the current fiscal year, carrying out hundreds of actions against illicit tobacco operations and seizing untaxed products, raw materials, and manufacturing equipment worth billions of rupees. According to media reports, the government adopted a zero-tolerance approach to tax evasion under directives from prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. Authorities continued enforce- ment activities against cigarette factories owned by influential families, despite what the report described as political pressure and attempts to influence investigations. FBR recorded 710 legal actions involving illegal cigarettes through March 2026. During those operations, officials confiscated untaxed raw materials, finished cigarettes, and machinery valued at billions of rupees. In November 2025, enforcement teams from the Regional Tax Office in Peshawar raided a warehouse linked to Indus Tobacco Company in Mardan and seized 200 cartons of allegedly illegal cigarettes. The report states that authorities later detained two company owners in a separate operation involving the transfer of machinery. Authorities also took action against Souvenir Tobacco Company during the same month, sealing the factory over alleged tax-evasion activities and filed an FIR against several company directors. In December 2025, tax authorities targeted Universal Tobacco Company in Mardan and seized machinery allegedly used in the production of untaxed cigarettes. FBR also conducted an operation against Khyber Tobacco Company in December 2025, seizing 2.75 million kilograms of untaxed tobacco along with raw materials valued at more than PKR1 billion (US$3.6 million). Some manufacturers relocated operations after earlier enforcement actions, while authorities continue to pursue alleged tax-evasion cases across multiple regions. Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue carried out 710 actions against illicit cigarette operations through March 2026, seizing untaxed materials, cigarettes, and equipment worth billions of rupees. Credit: 2Happy, Stockvault.

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