Pakistan ranks 101 in the 2025 Global Illegal Trade Index, facing annual losses of Rs 75,100 crore

According to a report from News International, Pakistan has ranked 101 of 158 countries in the 2025 Illegal Trade Index, which has attracted serious concerns about its economic environment and ability to attract investment.The country's struggle with illegal trade has resulted in a shocking loss of annual revenue, with the tobacco industry alone accounting for a deficit of 30,000 crore.
The findings were presented in a new report titled “Pakistan’s Fight Against Illegal Trade: An Analysis of Challenges and Pathways for Resilience”, published by the Institute of Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) and the Transnational Alliance to Fight against Illegal Trade (TRACIT).
The report highlights the five key sectors driving these losses: tobacco (Rs 30,000 crore), petroleum products such as petrol and diesel (Rs 27,000 crore), tires and lubricants (Rs 10,600 crore), pharmaceutical companies (Rs 60-665 crore), and tea (Rs 10,000 crore) (Rs 1,000 crore).

Pakistan scored 44.5 on the Illegal Trade Index, which is below the global average of 49.9.

The highest score observed in trade, customs and borders can measure Pakistan's performance in six aspects (75.4), indicating a relatively strong mechanism for border control and customs management. However, the scores of supply chain intermediaries (25.9) and sectoral illicit trade indicators (29.3) are low, pointing to the serious vulnerability of internal trade networks and sector-specific compliance. In addition, the scores of taxation and economic environment (47.3), regulatory frameworks and law enforcement (46.4) and crime promoters of illegal trade (42.7) show that the systemic weaknesses in policy implementation and law enforcement capabilities, and the report of the International News is reported internationally, although Pakistan has made some progress within the international community, and has made certain progress within the international community, and has made certain progress within the country, and has made certain progress within the country, and has made certain progress within the international community. In the international community, it has gradually reformed in the international community. curb illicit trade and support sustainable economic development.