Pakistan Gets 101st Rank in the 2025 Illicit Index

Pakistan Loses Rs751 Billion to Illicit Trade Yearly

Illegal trade activities present huge challenges in Pakistan, which is ranked 101 out of 158 countries in the 2025 Global Illicit Trade Index. The Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) and Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) report that illicit trade is costing the country an alarming annual revenue loss of Rs 751 billion.

Main Contributing Sectors:

• Tobacco: Rs 300 billion
• Petroleum Products: Rs 270 billion
• Tires and Lubricants: Rs 106 billion
• Pharmaceuticals: Rs 60–65 billion
• Tea: Rs 10 billion

New report suggests Pakistan loses an estimated Rs. 3.4 trillion in tax revenue annually from illicit trade, adding the country ranks 101 out of 158 on the 2025 Illicit Trade Indexhttps://t.co/4rLSkG6PXD

— The Standard (@PakStandard) May 2, 2025

Performance

1. Index Score: 44.5 for Pakistan, below the global average of 49.9.
2. Trade, Customs, and Borders: 75.4 (with strong border controls)
3. Supply Chain Intermediaries: 25.9
4. Sectoral Illicit Trade Indicators: 29.3
5. Taxation and Economic Environment: 47.3
6. Regulatory Framework and Enforcement: 46.4
7. Criminal Enablers of Illicit Trade: 42.7

The report underlines the need for an overhaul of Pakistan’s internal trade networks, regulatory frameworks, and enforcement mechanisms for purposes of curbing illicit trade in an economy-resilient manner.