Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah has said that the tax on cigarettes should be increased to curb smoking.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Syed Khurshid Shah said that agriculture sector alone can take Pakistan out of all economic problems. If this sector is supported for 10 years, we will get rid of international financial institutions including IMF.
۔ That smoking is prohibited in the developed countries of the world, a pack of cigarettes in the UK costs Rs 3,500, we have a pack of good brand cigarettes less than three hundred, our people go out from here Cigarettes are taken as gifts to distribute among friends.
Taxes on cigarettes should be further increased. The purpose is not to collect taxes but to save people’s lives. The cabinet recommended an additional tax of Rs 1 per cigarette.
He said that a parliamentary committee should be formed to review the tax of each sector. The Prime Minister had also agreed to the proposal to increase the tax on cigarettes. There should be an additional tax target of at least Rs 70 billion for the next financial year.
Finance Minister Muftah Ismail said that he is grateful to Khurshid Shah for raising this issue. The Prime Minister himself is against smoking. He is aware of its harmful effects.
He directed to collect additional tax of Rs 70 billion from this sector. This year we have collected Rs. 150 billion in taxes from this sector and next year we will take it up to Rs. 200 billion. What is the rate on this? Leave it to me. 10% additional income tax.
