Tobacco continues to cost a health burden of Rs. 615 billion, while the government increases No Taxes
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: An seminar on the harms of tobacco products was organized by Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH). The seminar was hosted by Sana Ullah Ghumman, General Secretary and Director Operations of PANAH. Respectable Members of Parliamentarians Uzma Riaz, Zille Huma, Farrukh Khan, Rukhsana Naveed, Mahmud Ali Shah,coordinator Panah women wing Rohhi Hashmi and others specially attended the event, PANAH urged them to raise their voices in the parliament to increase taxes on tobacco. He said tobacco claims over 170,000 lives in Pakistan every year, yet the government has imposed no taxes on the product in the last three years. Higher taxes is also an effective policy to deter young people from initiating tobacco, the seminar was attended by people belonging to different schools of thought.
He also gave evidence from a study conducted by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics in 2021 that the health burden of tobacco products is Rs. 615 billion due to loss of productivity and tobacco related diseases, while the revenue collected from tobacco industry is only Rs. 120 billion. Taxes will only help mitigate this burden. The government must raise at least 30% FED on tobacco products.
It was informed in the seminar that many Asian countries have increased their taxes on tobacco at the beginning of the new year 2022. In Indonesia, excise taxes on all levels of cigarettes have been increased by an average of 12% since January 1,2022.The aim is to keep Indonesian youth away from smoking. Philippines raises excise tax on cigarettes by five Philippine pesos per pack.At the start of the new year, cigarette tax in Turkey increased by 47%, Russia on January 1, 2022 increased its excise tax by 4% and the minimum price of cigarettes from 108 to 112 rubles per pack.
Participants in the seminar said that WHO is proposing to increase the tax on tobacco by at least 75%. According to WHO 10% increase in taxes result in 8% reduction in consumption. Tax increases are the best way to prevent smoking-related illness and premature death.
The MPs present at the seminar expressed their views on the proposed tax hike to reduce the use of tobacco products.Tobacco is not good for health. Due to the availability of cheap cigarettes, smoking is common and the young generation is a valuable asset of the country.They need to stop using tobacco products to protect their health and become active citizens of the country.For this, parents have to play their part.We are with them in the cause of PANAH, we will try our best to prevent it.