Islamabad: The Human Development Foundation (HDF), in collaboration with partner organizations Chromatic Trust, Society for the Protection of the Rights of Child (SPARC), Aurat Foundation, Indus Hospital and Health Network, Social Policy and Development Center (SPDC), organized media briefing on the critical issue of tobacco taxation and its impact on public health, education, youth and the economy. Held to mark World No Tobacco Day, the session aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco use and the potential of taxation as a deterrent.
The briefing highlighted the well-documented health risks of tobacco, including the burden it places on individuals and the health system. Pakistan loses more than 160,000 lives annually to tobacco-related diseases, at a healthcare cost of PKR 615 billion to the national economy. Dr. Shafiq Rehman, a public health expert, emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive measures to curb tobacco consumption and its negative consequences.
The session also looked at the alarming impact of tobacco on education and youth development. Concerns have been raised about the proliferation of new tobacco products, such as nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes, abusing young people through aggressive marketing campaigns on social media, television and with the help of influential celebrities. Mr. Sulaiman Ahmed, Director InCharge at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), emphasized the critical need for immediate regulation of all such products and reaffirmed HEC’s commitment to promoting an anti-tobacco policy in educational institutions. He called on the media to play a vital role in creating awareness and promoting the ban on nicotine products.
The briefing further explored the considerable economic strain caused by tobacco use. The discussion recognized the significant costs associated with health care and lost productivity. Mr. Malik Imran Ahmad, a tobacco control campaigner, highlighted the potential benefits of increased tobacco taxation, noting: “Tobacco taxation is a globally recognized and effective tool to reduce affordability and consumption.”
Mr. Malik Imran Ahmad also pointed out the tobacco industry’s attempt to introduce 10-packs of cigarettes under the guise of exports and warned that this may lead to an increase in domestic consumption due to their lower price and affordability. Citing it as “another way to target our youth”, he urged the government to reject the proposal and ensure that such packages do not enter the Pakistani market.
The session examined proposed changes to tobacco taxation policy and analyzed their potential impact on public health and government revenue. Ms Arooj Rajput, Tobacco Control Campaign Focal Point at HDF, shared valuable insights from recent research which suggested that “a 37% increase in tobacco tax could lead to a triple win with 757,000 fewer smokers increasing tax revenues income by 12.1%. and a 17.8% return on medical costs. This shows that such policies not only save lives but also improve the national economy.
The session unequivocally called upon policymakers to adopt strategic tax policies aimed at protecting our future generations and creating a tobacco-free Pakistan.
