ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (EW): February 22, 2023: Health activists have expressed joy on government’s decision to double the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on Cigarettes. In a press release shared by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), health activists dubbed shared that this decision will go long way in solving Pakistan’s financial woes and recommended government to remain steadfast on this decision against tobacco industry’s misinformation campaign.
Malik Imran, country head, Campaign for tobacco-free kids (CTFK), expresses his gratitude by thanking the government for increasing FED after an SRO was released on 14th February, 2023. The SRO stating revised taxes on locally produced cigarettes, FED has doubled on cigarettes (16500/- per 1000 cigarettes if the initial price on the packaging exceeds 9000 per 1000 cigarettes).
He mentioned that tobacco induced disease causes an annual economic burden of 615 billion which is 1.6% of Pakistan’s GDP. On the other hand, the revenue generated from the tobacco industry is 120 billion. Therefore everyone must appreciate government’s decision which is in interest of Pakistan’s health and economy. Subsequently, the government needs to remain headstrong because like previous occasions, tobacco industry will oppose this decision using false claims of illicit trade and counterfeit products. Listening to their lies will only push us back.
Khalil Ahmed Dogar, Program Manager (SPARC) said that, Govt. couldn’t have made a better decision than doubling the FED on Cigarettes. The products of tobacco industry are deadly and the harm caused by them should be paid by tobacco industry and not by the citizens. He mentioned that on average Pakistani smokers spend 10% of their monthly income on cigarettes. Therefore this increase will make cigarettes go out of reach of low income citizens and children and thus saving them for its harms.
Khalil mentioned that this good step shouldn’t remain a onetime activity. Keeping World Health Organization’s recommendation in consideration, Pakistan should increase taxes on regular intervals so that inflation and per capita income is accounted for.
