Lawmakers, health professionals, and civil society members have come together to call for a significant increase in tobacco taxes in the upcoming federal budget. The demand follows growing concerns about rising tobacco use, especially among young people.
The appeal was made during a policy dialogue on tobacco control, where participants stressed that stronger fiscal and legislative measures are critical to addressing the public health risks associated with smoking.
MNA Saher Kamran emphasized the role of schools and universities in tobacco prevention efforts and reiterated her commitment to youth-focused health legislation, citing over a decade of parliamentary work on the issue.
Research presented by Asif Iqbal, Managing Director of the Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC), revealed that cigarettes have become more affordable since February 2023, when the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on tobacco was last adjusted. He warned that without urgent intervention, nearly 500,000 new smokers could emerge next year, mostly among youth. “Raising taxes on tobacco is both a public health imperative and a budgetary necessity,” Iqbal said.
Zaheer Qureshi, representing the FBR, spoke about the progress of the Track and Trace System, designed to curb tax evasion in the tobacco sector by tracking the production and sale of cigarettes and similar products.
Dr. Arsalan Haider of the Tobacco Control Cell highlighted Pakistan’s international obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and stressed the need to expand enforcement, particularly for emerging products such as e-cigarettes.
Punjab MPA Tahira Mushtaq discussed her resolution in the provincial assembly advocating for a new tobacco levy and tighter regulations on vaping devices. Her concerns were echoed by federal parliamentarians, including MNA Sabeen Ghauri, who called for updating outdated laws to keep pace with the evolving nicotine market.
Support for increased taxes also came from MNA Dr. Shazia Sobia and MNA Naeema Kishwar Khan. Naeema additionally urged the government to assist tobacco farmers in transitioning to alternative crops, particularly in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Civil society figures, including Safdar Raza and Mumtaz Mughal from Aurat Foundation, stressed that tobacco use has far-reaching consequences beyond individual health, affecting families, women, and the nation’s economic development.
The event closed with a unified call for stronger taxation, modern legislation, and coordinated enforcement to combat tobacco use and safeguard Pakistan’s public health future.
