ISLAMABAD, Jul 27 (NNI): Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) issued a press release to accentuate the success achieved from the revenue collected due to increase in taxes on cigarettes.
According to the health activists, this progress has been achieved due to government’s good judgement and strong resolve.
Malik Imran Ahmad, country head, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), contentedly shared that the national treasury has bloomed with Rs: 25Billon additional revenue after the tax increase on cigarettes. This tax increase is a way forward for Pakistan into becoming an economically sustainable country. Much needed increase on cigarettes and other harmful tobacco products will aid in forming a better and stable economy. This is a win-win situation for Pakistan as it is helping government generate more revenue and saving youth from tobacco hazards by keeping cigarettes expensive.
Dr. Ziauddin Islam, Former Technical Head, Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of Health, added that tax increase on cigarettes needs to be revised every year in order to meet Pakistan’s international commitments of controlling tobacco. This extra revenue from increased tax will prove to be the savior of Pakistan’s current and future economic crises. Cigarette smoking causes a number of non-communicable diseases. Practicing this tax increase in every fiscal year can become an ideal way of saving the health of our people by making cigarettes pricey, which will also cause the healthcare system less burdened.
Khalil Ahmed Dogar, program manager SPARC, supported government’s decision of tax increase and expressed hope about the future of Pakistan’s youth and economy. He mentioned that this increase in tax on cigarettes has brought Pakistan closer to international standards and with more sustainable efforts, Pakistan protect its current and future generations from harms of tobacco. NNI
