Pakistan experiences an annual deficit of Rs615 billion due to tobacco consumption

According to reports, Pakistan has faced an annual deficit of Rs615 billion owing to diseases caused due to tobacco consumption. The country earned only Rs120 billion in tax revenue from the product.

Many news outlets suggest that authorities will impose a 30% increase in taxes on cigarettes to improve the revenue. During a symposium held in the capital, Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) held a seminar on the ‘Harms of Tobacco Products and the Importance of Tax Policy.’ Patron General (R) Ashraf Khan presided over the session, while General Secretary Sana Ullah Ghumman hosted it. Former governor of KP and a senior PML-N leader, Engineer Iqbal Zafar Jhagra was a special guest at the event, along with MNA Nisar Cheema. PANAH Patron General Khan congratulated the attendees and informed them about the organization’s objectives and aims.

During the event, tobacco consumption was declared the fundamental reason behind serious cancer, lung, and heart diseases in the country. The Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) released a sheet on the health and economic costs of cigarette usage. According to a survey, around 31 million people over the age of 15 use tobacco. It is predicted that more than 260,000 people will start smoking in the country if the tax on tobacco products is not raised in the 2022-23 budget.

Smoking was also declared the main cause of death from non-communicable diseases, like respiratory, chronic diseases, cancer, and heart. It was estimated that in 2017, 163,360 circa people died.

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