BAT subsidiary lobbies Pakistan to allow cigarette exports to Sudan

LONDON: The Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), a subsidiary of British American Tobacco (BAT), is lobbying the Pakistani government to permit the export of 10-packs of cigarettes to war-torn Sudan, drawing criticism from anti-smoking campaigners.

Pakistan is among more than 80 countries that ban the sale or manufacture of 10-packs of cigarettes, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says make smoking more affordable for children.

Despite this, the Pakistan Tobacco Company has approached the health ministry to advocate for a law change to allow the production of smaller packs for export to Sudan and other nations where they are legal, The Guardian said in a report.

A leaked letter seen by The Guardian reveals PTC stated it had “received a new export order to manufacture for Sudan, which includes packs of 10 cigarettes.” Sudan, currently gripped by a civil war that has claimed up to 150,000 lives, does not prohibit the sale of 10-packs.

PTC argued that amending the law would “benefit Pakistan” by generating a $20.5m order that could recur, thus bringing valuable dollar reserves into the country. They requested the law be changed to permit the manufacture of smaller cigarette packets for export.

Mark Hurley, vice-president at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), condemned the move, stating smaller packs appeal particularly to under-18s. “It is beyond shameful that British American Tobacco is seeking to alter the law in Pakistan so that it can flood an African country in crisis with cheap cigarettes,” he said.

He noted that over 80 countries have enacted laws mandating a minimum of 20 cigarettes per pack because evidence shows that smaller, cheaper packs target children and vulnerable populations. “Exploiting not only this knowledge but a country facing a humanitarian crisis is the behaviour of a company that will truly stop at nothing to sell and addict more people to cigarettes.”

Also read: PM forms committee to review export of small cigarette packets

More than 180 countries, including Pakistan and Sudan, are signatories to the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which obliges them to prohibit the sale of cigarettes individually or in small packets to minors. Although the FCTC does not specify what constitutes a small pack, at least 82 countries have laws requiring a minimum of 20 cigarettes per pack.

BAT, headquartered in London and known for brands such as Lucky Strike and Rothmans, said the export order aims to replace domestic manufacturing by its Sudanese subsidiary, Blue Nile Cigarette Company (BNCC). The factory, located in Madani, has seen heavy fighting amid Sudan’s civil war.

A BAT spokesperson stated: “To ensure the continuity of products to meet consumer demands in Sudan, which predominantly operates in cigarette packs of 10, Pakistan was given the export order to supply to BNCC. The clearance for the export order of cigarette packs of 10 from Pakistan to Sudan is pending regulatory approval by the government of Pakistan. The clearance complies with all local laws and regulations in Sudan. For any products manufactured by BAT, we abide by strict marketing principles to prevent marketing and sales to underage [consumers]. These measures include prominent 18+ age warnings on packaging as well as our communications.”

A spokesperson for the Pakistani government declined to comment. In 2017, a Guardian investigation revealed BAT’s promotion of cigarette sales in some of the most fragile and war-torn countries in Africa and the Middle East. At the time, a spokesperson stated: “We take our commitment to the responsible marketing of our products very seriously. We have strict, company-wide marketing principles in place to ensure that our products are marketed responsibly, in addition to adhering to all relevant laws and regulations in the 200 markets where we operat