Islamabad, November 11, 2025 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has intensified its regulatory oversight of Pakistan’s tobacco industry by mandating the installation of IP-CCTV cameras for real-time production monitoring.
Through Sales Tax General Order (STGO) No. 8 of 2025, the FBR directed all tobacco manufacturing units to install IP-CCTV systems at designated points within their production facilities. The move aims to curb tax evasion, ensure accurate documentation of output, and enhance transparency within the sector.
According to the FBR directive, no manufacturer will be allowed to remove or dispatch any tobacco products from their premises unless the entire production process has been monitored through the IP-CCTV system.
The FBR emphasized that the system will enable electronic surveillance of manufacturing operations, giving tax authorities real-time access to production data and recorded footage.
An IP-CCTV (Internet Protocol Closed-Circuit Television) camera is a modern surveillance device that transmits video data over a network or the internet, unlike traditional analog systems that rely on coaxial cables. These digital cameras feature unique IP addresses, provide high-resolution footage, and offer remote viewing capabilities, motion detection, and cloud storage for enhanced monitoring efficiency.
Officials believe this initiative will not only promote compliance but also assist in detecting underreporting of production volumes, ultimately boosting tax revenue from the tobacco sector.