ISLAMABAD: Experts have asked the government to increase federal excise duty by 30pc on cigarettes in the upcoming budget as the tobacco taxes in Pakistan are around 25pc lower than what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended.

The average excise duty is 45.4pc of the retail price in Pakistan which is much lower than the WHO recommendation that excise tax should be at least 70pc of the retail price.

In a letter to the Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations the experts urged to raise the tobacco excise to Rs43 on the low price tier and Rs135 on the premium tier.

The letter written by Professor Javaid Khan of the AKU stated that the government should to increase taxes on cigarettes in the budget to reduce the burden of tobacco-related diseases in the country.

They suggested that excise duty would result in 219,000 fewer smokers, 3.8pc reduction in smoking prevalence among adults and 6.4pc reduction in smoking intensity among adults.

They expressed the hope that the health ministry would forward the proposal to the Federal Board of Revenue for consideration in the federal budget (2021-22).

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2021