The most recent development in Pakistan's economic landscape involves Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's call for enhancing export competitiveness and tackling illicit cigarette trade. On February 12, 2026, during a meeting with British American Tobacco's delegation, Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of 'enhancing export competitiveness' and 'facilitating sectors with strong export potential,' such as tobacco, to boost Pakistan's global market presence (The Frontier Post). He highlighted that structural reforms have broadened the tax base and improved compliance, with significant enforcement in sectors like sugar, cement, and tobacco leading to 'measurable improvements in compliance and revenue collection' (Profit by Pakistan Today). The Finance Minister also noted record seizures of illicit cigarettes, attributing this success to coordinated operations involving customs and inland revenue authorities (Business Recorder).