‘Raise tobacco taxes to curb smoking’
When nicotine metabolism is higher, people tend to have a harder time quitting smoking. PHOTO: FILE
Health activists on Wednesday highlighted the critical need for raising tobacco taxes, diverting the money to be spent on healthcare infrastructure and health initiatives in the country and minimising smoking, especially among the youth.
They also underscored that such measures are indispensable for generating significant revenue streams crucial for funding essential public services and bolstering the economy.
In a press release issued by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of Child (SPARC), the Country Head of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Malik Imran Ahmed emphasised the pivotal role of heightened cigarette taxes in deterring smoking, particularly among the youth and individuals with lower incomes.
By instituting annual increments in cigarette taxes, policymakers can effectively curtail tobacco consumption by rendering cigarettes less affordable over time, he said, and added that this strategic approach holds the promise of substantially ameliorating public health outcomes by mitigating smoking-related diseases and reducing healthcare expenditures, he maintained.
Imran also shed light on the staggering economic toll of smoking in Pakistan, which amounts to Rs615.07 billion ($3.85 billion), equivalent to 1.6% of the country's GDP. Notably, the economic costs of smoking far surpass the revenues generated by the tobacco industry, exacerbating this gap annually.
Read: ‘Around 1,000 kids start smoking each year’
He further referenced data from an international survey revealing that the aggregate annual economic costs attributable to smoking-related diseases and deaths, along with those associated with the three primary non-communicable diseases, collectively amount to 1.6% and 1.15% of Pakistan's GDP, respectively. This alarming trend underscores the urgent imperative for escalating cigarette taxes annually to alleviate the strain on Pakistan's GDP, necessitating prompt governmental action, Imran maintained.
Dr Khalil Ahmad, the Programme Manager at the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), elaborated on the multifaceted implications of escalating cigarette taxes.
Highlighting the profound impact of tobacco-related health issues on children and marginalised communities, Dr Khalil emphasised the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate these challenges.
He stressed that by augmenting cigarette taxes, the government could effectively curb smoking rates among youth, thereby safeguarding their health and well-being.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2024.