ISLAMABAD: Health activists have once again asked the government to present health levy bill in the National Assembly aimed to generate additional Rs60bn.

They said the levy could help Pakistan overcome the current financial challenge.

These views were expressed in a statement issued by the Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (Sparc).

Malik Imran Ahmed, Country Head Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said: “Due to cheap and easy affordability of tobacco products, the economic cost of smoking in Pakistan is Rs615.07bn which is equal to 1.6pc of Pakistan’s GDP but the revenue generated from the tobacco industry is only 20pc of the total cost.

In 2019, the federal cabinet approved a bill to imposing health levy (Additional tax) on tobacco products to decrease consumption and generate Rs60bn. However, influenced by the tobacco industry, many policymakers blocked the bill and as a result Pakistan’s healthcare and economy have suffered miserably,” he said.

Former Technical Head of the health ministry’s Tobacco Control Cell Dr Ziauddin Islam said 1,200 children started smoking daily and 170,000 people died due to tobacco-induced diseases every year.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2023