Not implementing health levy cost govt Rs55b
Child rights activist Imran Takkar said all expectations from the PTI-led government to introduce an active and efficient child protection system have vanished and this was most unfortunate. STOCK IMAGE
Over a year after the federal cabinet had decided to introduce a health levy on tobacco products and sugary drinks, the government has been unable to implement it, causing a potential loss of Rs55 billion to the exchequer apart from letting thousands of children consume potentially hazardous products.
This was suggested by child rights and health experts and activists during a joint news conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Demanding the imposition of health levy which had been approved by the federal cabinet in June 2019, Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC) Executive Director Sajjad Cheema
Sajjad Ahmed Cheema said that the imposition of the levy on tobacco and sugary products would have increased the prices of these products, making them unaffordable for low-income groups and children.
However, Cheema claimed that the bill has been going back and forth between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the health and finance ministries and demanded an investigation into the delays.
The SPARC chief said that the FBR has communicated it does not have any issues with the implementation of the levy. Hence, any delay in this matter is a disappointing shock because it shows that public health is not a priority for our government.
Sanaullah Ghumman, the secretary-general of the Pakistan National Heart Association, reminded the government that Pakistan is a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), under which the prime minister cannot meet representatives of the tobacco industry.
Children, he said, are the most affected consumers of tobacco.
“We hope that he [PM Imran Khan] will take immediate notice of the delays in implementing the healthy levy and take necessary steps to safeguard the health of millions of children in Pakistan.
Human Development Foundation (HDF) Chief Executive Officer Colonel (retired) Azhar Saleem said that due to delays in implementing the health levy, the national exchequer has suffered an estimated loss of Rs55 billion.
The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has made everyone realise that our existing resources are inadequate to counter any healthy emergency, he said, adding that money raised by the levy could have been used to help control the pandemic guarantee better health and living standards for the people.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2020.