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This year began with a major policy shift for Pakistan’s tobacco sector, when the Federal Cabinet decided to dissolve the national Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) and transfer its functions to the provinces.
The Cabinet’s decision formed part of its plan to reduce the size of the government in line with the recommendations of the Rightsizing Committee. However, the decision received criticism from stakeholders in the tobacco sector, ranging from PTB employees to tobacco growers and tobacco manufacturers. They argued that transferring the board’s regulation to the provinces without new legislation could create conflicts over production, exports and taxation.
