Call to raise tobacco taxes to save lives

ISLAMABAD: Experts have called for raising taxes on tobacco products to save lives in Pakistan.

Founding chairman of the Department of Sociology at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and head of the Zaman Research Centre Dr Muhammad Zaman underscored the life-saving potential of tobacco taxation, echoing the sentiments previously voiced by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), said a press release.

“Taxing tobacco saves lives by reducing consumption and directing resources toward crucial public health initiatives,” Dr Zaman asserted, emphasizing the urgent need for increased taxation on tobacco products, particularly cigarettes.

Highlighting the findings of the SDPI, Dr Zaman draws attention to deficiencies in the current tax collection framework, revealing a staggering revenue loss of Rs567 billion to the national exchequer over the past seven years.

Cigarettes, Dr Zaman contended, are a non-essential and hazardous commodity, with their affordability fueling high consumption rates and consequent health hazards across the country. He stresses that international evidence supports the effectiveness of increasing cigarette prices in reducing consumption.

Endorsing alignment with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, Dr Zaman called for the development of a long-term taxation policy grounded in global best practices and Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Supporting his argument with recent research, he referenced a report by Islamabad-based think tank Capital Calling, revealing that a significant increase in cigarette prices has prompted one in every ninety-four smokers to quit, redirecting saved funds towards essential needs like food, education, and healthcare for their families.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids country head Malik Imran underscored the staggering economic toll of tobacco consumption, citing an annual loss of Rs615 billion.

Referring to a World Bank report, Imran advocated for a substantial tax increase on tobacco products, suggesting that the government could generate an additional Rs17 billion to Rs65 billion in revenue by raising taxes up to 26 per cent.

The calls for higher tobacco taxes echo not only as a means to address public health concerns but also as a vital strategy to bolster national revenue and alleviate the economic burden imposed by tobacco consumption on Pakistani society.