Philip Morris Pakistan
A Pakistani tobacco manufacturer and Philip Morris International subsidiary, formerly known as Lakson Tobacco Company.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Philip Morris Pakistan is a Pakistani tobacco manufacturing company headquartered in Karachi and affiliated with Philip Morris International. The business manufactures and sells cigarettes and other tobacco products in Pakistan and is described in reference material as the country's second-largest tobacco company after Pakistan Tobacco Company. Its corporate history began in 1969, when it was established as a joint venture involving the Lakson Group, Philip Morris International, and Rothmans International. The company initially operated under the name Lakson Tobacco Company, reflecting the controlling interest held by the Lakhani family. It became a listed company on the Karachi Stock Exchange in 1971, linking the business to Pakistan's public capital markets.
History
Philip Morris Pakistan traces its origins to the formation of Lakson Tobacco Company in 1969. The enterprise was created as a joint venture between the Lakson Group, Philip Morris International, and Rothmans International. At the outset, the Lakhani family held 51 percent of the share capital, which made the company part of the broader Lakson business interests while also connecting it to international tobacco groups. The company was subsequently admitted to the Karachi Stock Exchange in 1971, making its shares publicly tradable and establishing an early capital-markets presence in Pakistan's tobacco sector. The company's history also incorporates the earlier Premier Tobacco business. Premier Tobacco had been founded in 1952 by S. A. Samad as a joint venture with Philip Morris and Rothmans International. It became a listed company on the Karachi Stock Exchange in 1955. In 1984, Samad sold his controlling interest to Sadruddin Hashwani of the Hashoo Group. The controlling stake later changed hands again when the Lakhani family acquired it from Hashwani in 1987. Premier Tobacco was merged into Lakson Tobacco Company in 1997, consolidating tobacco-manufacturing operations under the Lakson name. The scale of the business expanded substantially over time. Reference material records that, by 1996, the company had installed cigarette-production capacity of 18.76 billion cigarettes across three factories in Dadu, Karachi, and Sahiwal. The company had also operated a factory in Mardan until 1991, when that facility was closed in the context of increasing tobacco smuggling. These plant changes illustrate the importance of production economics, illicit trade, and regional operating conditions to the company's Pakistan strategy. A major ownership and identity change occurred in 2007, when Philip Morris International increased its shareholding to 97 percent. Following the increase, Lakson Tobacco Company was renamed Philip Morris Pakistan. The renamed company continued to manufacture and market cigarette brands in Pakistan while operating as part of Philip Morris International's wider corporate structure. The company later reduced its manufacturing footprint. In 2015, it closed the Mandra plant in Rawalpindi District, with rising operating costs and tobacco smuggling identified as contributing factors. The shutdown affected 141 employees. In 2019, Philip Morris Pakistan closed its Kotri plant during a financial restructuring program; reference material reports that 193 employees lost their jobs. The listed business has continued to be associated with cigarette manufacturing and tobacco-product sales in Pakistan, although the available reference material does not provide a complete current account of its facilities, management, financial performance, or brand-level market shares.
- 2019
Kotri plant is closed
[1]The company closes its Kotri plant during a financial restructuring, with 193 reported job losses.
- 2015
Mandra plant is shut down
[1]The Rawalpindi District plant is closed amid cost pressures and tobacco smuggling, affecting 141 employees.
- 2007
Philip Morris International raises its stake and changes the company name
[1]Philip Morris International increases its shareholding to 97 percent, after which Lakson Tobacco Company adopts the Philip Morris Pakistan name.
- 1997
Premier Tobacco merges into Lakson Tobacco Company
[1]The merger brings the earlier Premier Tobacco business into Lakson Tobacco Company.
- 1991
Mardan factory closes
[1]The company closes a Mardan factory in the context of growing tobacco smuggling, according to the reference history.
- 1971
Company lists on the Karachi Stock Exchange
[1]Lakson Tobacco Company becomes a publicly listed company on the Karachi Stock Exchange.
- 1969
Lakson Tobacco Company is established
[1]A joint venture involving the Lakson Group, Philip Morris International, and Rothmans International establishes the company that would become Philip Morris Pakistan.
Products and positioning
A major domestic cigarette manufacturer serving the Pakistani tobacco market.
Cigarettes
Gulf
Gulf is one of the cigarette brands associated with Philip Morris Pakistan's Pakistani tobacco portfolio. The available reference material identifies the brand as part of the company's local brand range but does not provide detailed information on its product variants, packaging, pricing, or current market status.
Cigarettes
Kenmore
Kenmore is listed among the cigarette brands manufactured or marketed by Philip Morris Pakistan. Publicly available reference material does not establish its launch date, product architecture, distribution coverage, or whether every listed variant remains commercially active.
Cigarettes
Lord
Lord is a cigarette brand associated with the company's Pakistan portfolio. The available source identifies the brand but does not provide reliable details about its positioning, pack formats, historical advertising, or present availability.
Cigarettes
Morven Gold
Morven Gold is included in reference listings of Philip Morris Pakistan cigarette brands. No sufficiently detailed source material is available here to describe its launch, formulation, price tier, or current distribution.
Cigarettes
Princeton
Princeton is identified as one of the company's cigarette brands in Pakistan. The reference material does not specify the brand's introduction date, consumer segment, product variants, or current operating status.
Cigarettes
Royals
Royals is listed as part of Philip Morris Pakistan's cigarette portfolio. Detailed information about its market positioning, product variants, advertising history, and current availability is not established by the supplied references.
Brand decisions
2019
Closure of the Kotri plantStrategyBackground
The company undertook a financial restructuring while managing production and cost pressures.
Action taken
Philip Morris Pakistan closed its Kotri plant.
Aftermath
Reference material reports that 193 employees lost their jobs following the closure.
2015
Closure of the Mandra plantStrategyBackground
The company cited rising costs and tobacco smuggling as pressures on the Mandra operation.
Action taken
Philip Morris Pakistan shut the Mandra plant in Rawalpindi District.
Aftermath
The closure resulted in 141 reported employee job losses and reduced the company's manufacturing footprint.
2007
Increase of Philip Morris International ownershipStrategyBackground
Philip Morris International increased its ownership stake in the Pakistani tobacco company.
Action taken
The international tobacco group raised its shareholding to 97 percent and renamed Lakson Tobacco Company as Philip Morris Pakistan.
Aftermath
The business operated under the Philip Morris Pakistan identity as a predominantly Philip Morris International-owned Pakistani tobacco company.
1997
Merger with Premier TobaccoM&ABackground
Premier Tobacco had operated as an earlier listed tobacco company with links to Philip Morris and Rothmans International.
Action taken
Premier Tobacco was merged into Lakson Tobacco Company, consolidating the businesses under the Lakson Tobacco name.
Aftermath
The merger expanded the historical corporate base of Lakson Tobacco Company before its later renaming as Philip Morris Pakistan.
Recent events
- 2019
Philip Morris Pakistan closes Kotri plant during financial restructuring[1]
Other
The Kotri manufacturing plant was closed as part of a financial restructuring effort. Reference material states that 193 employees lost their jobs as a result.
- 2015
Philip Morris Pakistan closes Mandra plant amid cost pressures and tobacco smuggling[1]
Other
The company shut its Mandra plant in Rawalpindi District, citing rising costs and tobacco smuggling. The closure resulted in the loss of 141 employee positions.
Sources1 sources
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