The federal government’s decision to devolve the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) to the provinces is being aggressively pushed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Provincial Government, with CM Ali Amin Gandapur championing the move in every meeting. The issue was also raised at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting held on 28th April 2025. While framed as devolution under the 18th Amendment, the implications are far more dangerous. KPK is home to the bulk of Pakistan’s illicit tobacco manufacturers, many of whom are politically connected and have long operated with impunity. Decentralising PTB would hand them unchecked power to manipulate tobacco policy and evade regulation.
This shift threatens more than just oversight as it risks billions in national revenue. Pakistan’s formal tobacco exports crossed USD 175 million this year and are projected to touch USD 1 billion within five years. But if control of PTB is handed to provinces, that trajectory will collapse. Illicit trade, already draining USD 1 billion annually, will surge to more than USD 2 billion. “Tobacco is a key contributor to rural employment, national revenue, and export income. Timely policy action is critical to protect the interests of growers and ensure a stable investment climate,” commented Rana Tanveer Hussain. This is not just poor policy but economic sabotage. The PTB must remain under federal control to ensure export promotion, uniformity in standards, traceability, and accountability across all provinces.
Pakistan is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) through Islamabad, not KPK, Punjab, or Sindh. Fragmenting tobacco regulation will violate both the spirit and obligations of that treaty. Anything less than centralised governance will only empower the Mardan mafia and leave the country to foot the bill.
