Dhaka, April 27 -- In a bid to crack down on the illegal cigarette market and prevent revenue leakage, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) plans to introduce mandatory quick response (QR) or augmented reality (AR) codes on cigarette packets produced by tax-compliant domestic companies.

NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced the initiative on Monday during a pre-budget discussion with tobacco industry stakeholders at the Revenue Bhaban in Agargaon.

He explained that these automated codes will allow consumers to verify instantly whether the government has received the applicable taxes for a specific pack.

The chairman also revealed plans to offer "substantial rewards" to individuals who help identify tax evasion through this system.

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