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ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (APP):The government is committed to ensure regulatory framework in all sectors of the national economy in order to enhance revenue base for achieving sustainable and long term economic growth, and social prosperity in the country.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Finance and Railways, and Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit Bilal Azhar Kayani, while addressing a policy discussion titled “Track and Trace Compliance in the Tobacco Industry. The event was organized by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) to present findings from its nationwide study, said a press release issued by IPOR here on Saturday.
The evenbrought together policymakers, researchers, and regulatory authorities to deliberate on the study’s findings and their implications for tax revenue, market regulation, and public health.
The minister emphasized that stronger enforcement, enhanced regulatory measures, and institutional collaboration are essential to achieving the objectives of the Track and Trace System.
The study recommend to strengthen on-ground enforcement at the retail level, besides enhanced coordination between fiscal and administrative authorities.
It suggested to use pricing and taxation tools alongside enforcement to curb illicit trade.
The findings and discussions marked an important step toward improving regulatory compliance, strengthening tax collection, and supporting public health objectives.
The event also underscored the importance of evidence-based dialogue in advancing effective implementation of Pakistan’s Track and Trace System.
Dr Nasir Iqbal, Fiscal policy Expert and Registrar at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), discussed the findings in the broader context of fiscal discipline and regulatory governance.
He emphasized that persistent noncompliance reflects deeper institutional coordination challenges and stressed the need to align enforcement mechanisms with broader public finance and governance reforms.
Ms. Mehwish Mumtaz, Assistant Chief (Policy) at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), further elaborated on the policy implications of the study.
She highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking and inter-institutional coordination, noting that weak compliance undermines not only revenue collection but also public health objectives.
She stressed the need for data-driven regulatory responses to translate policy intent into measurable outcomes.
The regulatory response was presented by Javed Iqbal, Project Director, Track and Trace System, FBR, who outlined the current state of enforcement and compliance mechanisms.
He shared insights into ongoing efforts by FBR to strengthen monitoring, improve system integrity, and address illicit trade challenges within the tobacco sector.