ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided tolevy a special tax ‘sin tax’ on tobacco products to discourage smoking inthe country.
Federal Minister for National Health Services Aamer Mehmood Kiani onTuesday, while addressing at Annual Public Health Conference announced that“We are sending a sin tax bill in the National Assembly in which taxeswould be imposed on cigarettes and tobacco products.”
The accumulated tax would be spent on the on the youth including theirhuman development and education, Kiani added.
Moreover, the price of cigarettes is expected to rise in view of thegovernment’s decision. The health ministry is considering various optionsregarding the sin tax and expected to impose levy ranging from Rs5 to 15 ona cigarette packet.
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According to a survey, more than 177 million cigarettes are consumed everyday in Pakistan that causes some 108,800 fatalities every year, ie 298 perday.
Pakistan will be the second country to impose a sin tax on cigarettes afterthe Philippines.
