Speaking at a session organized by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) and the Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC), Murtaza Solangi, Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, criticized the government for prioritizing the interests of cigarette manufacturers over public health. GNN
He emphasized the need for policies that prioritize health objectives and generate revenue through increased cigarette taxes.
Muhammad Asif Iqbal, Managing Director of SPDC, highlighted the unrealistic revenue target of Rs324 billion set for the cigarette industry in the federal budget. He argued that without a tax increase, the industry is likely to fall short of this target by over Rs100 billion.
Malik Imran Ahmed, Country Head of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, added that the changes introduced in the Finance Act 2024 benefit cigarette manufacturers by allowing them to increase consumer prices without contributing additional excise tax revenue. Business Recorder
This undermines tobacco control efforts and exacerbates the public health crisis caused by tobacco consumption.
The health advocates called for a dual approach to address the issue. They urged the government to increase the federal excise duty (FED) rate on cigarettes and implement stricter regulations to combat the illegal cigarette trade. They emphasized that effective tobacco control policies should utilize higher cigarette taxes as a tool to discourage tobacco use and promote public health.
