Mohsin Siddiqui (Chief Reporter)
Former Federal Minister for National Health Services, Dr. Nadeem Jan, urged for a substantial 50% increase in taxes (excise duty and sales tax) on cigarettes within the 2024-25 budget.
Dr. Jan emphasized the significance of elevated taxes as a deterrent to make cigarettes less accessible and effectively address tobacco-related health challenges.
During an anti-tobacco awareness session held by the Centre for Research and Dialogue and IBC in the federal capital, Dr. Jan scrutinized the cigarette industry’s assertions that higher taxes would fuel illicit trade, labeling such claims as misleading tactics to influence the government into lowering tobacco taxes.
Dr. Jan highlighted the detrimental effects of such misinformation on state revenues and public health. Despite industry pressures, he commended the health ministry’s efforts to implement policies aimed at decreasing smoking rates in Pakistan.
Advocating for a shift to a single-tier taxation system to replace the current multi-tier setup influenced by the cigarette industry, Dr. Jan stressed the need for simplicity in regulation and discouraging tobacco use.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s dedication to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Dr. Jan proposed a unified pricing system to streamline regulation and deter tobacco consumption.
Malik Imran, Country Head of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, also addressed the session, highlighting the economic strain of tobacco consumption on the country, estimated at an annual loss of Rs615 billion. Imran criticized the tobacco industry’s undue influence on government policy and their baseless warnings against tax hikes, contrasting with the industry’s soaring revenues and the government’s doubled revenue from the previous financial year.
Both speakers emphasized the necessity of strict regulation and public awareness to counter the tobacco industry’s deceptive claims and propaganda, including on social media platforms, advocating for a significant tax hike on tobacco products, supported by the World Bank’s research findings.
