Daily Times

The government has taken a step in the right direction imposing FED on cigarettes as it will not only generate an additional revenue, but also bring down smoking in the society, states Capital Calling, a network of academic researchers and professionals.

It appreciated the government for the FED increase, urging it to hold ground against the pressure by multinational companies. The sale of illicit cigarettes has plummeted after imposition of track and trace system so the propaganda that higher taxes will give rise to smuggling are just allegations, states Dr Hassan Shehzad, from IIUI. Preliminary findings of a recent survey have shown that volume of illicit trade of cigarettes is negligible, he said.

He said quoted a report, stating, “Multinational cigarette makers are deliberately spreading the propaganda in the market that volume of illicit trade is increasing after the rise in taxes on cigarettes, which is a misplaced argument.” The report further mentions that “there has been an increase in revenues of international cigarette brands this year according to their own reports,” he states.

“Track and trace system has been implemented fully and no industry is now able to do illegal business,” he stated, referring to the report. It is estimated that cigarette consumption has plummeted after the recent taxes on tobacco. He said due to the decline in consumption, health cost of cigarettes is expected to come down to one billion dollars from over three billion dollars annually. At the same time, the revenue that the government will generate will be touching the figure of Rs250 billion. Both these indicators are positive for Pakistan.

Sanaullah Ghumman, from PANAH, said that the government should keep on increasing tax on tobacco products regularly as per guidelines by the World Health Organization (WHO). Khalil Dogar, from SPARC, said that it is deplorable that tobacco industry is putting up illicit trade of cigarettes as an excuse to seek undue tax favors for production of a non-essential good, states Capital Calling, a network of academic researchers and professionals. He states that percentage of illicit cigarettes is far less than the figure claimed by the industry. This is a cover used by the tobacco industry to divert people’s attention from underreporting.

It cites a report stating, “These companies underreport their production and then sell their non-reported products in the illicit market, causing a loss in billions of rupees to the national exchequer. Furthermore, illicit trade is not an excuse because the industry is making deadly non-essential products.” In another report, Khalil Ahmed from Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), had mentioned that increasing the FED in February was a good step that shouldn’t remain a one-time activity. Keeping the World Health Organization’s recommendation in consideration, Pakistan should increase taxes at regular intervals so that inflation and per capita income are accounted for and Pakistanis remain protected from the harms of tobacco products.