KP Assembly passes bill to decrease tobacco tax

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly on Tuesday passed the amended Finance Bill to withdraw the increase in tobacco tax, which was announced in the provincial budget 2024-25, ARY News reported.

The provincial government presented an amended Finance Bill in the provincial assembly to decrease the tax ratio which was passed.

Initially, the provincial government imposed a tax of up to Rs 50 per kilogram on tobacco.

Through the amended Finance Bill, the tobacco tax has been decreased to Rs 25 per kilogram for o. The tax on white patta tobacco has also been decreased Rs 15 per kilogram from Rs 30.

The Pakhtunkhwa Assembly government also decided to maintain the existing tax of Rs 7.50 per kilogram on Naswar.

Earlier, the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) along with other organisations demanded the Pakistan’s Finance Ministry increase tax on tobacco products, especially cigarettes.

In a briefing session with journalists, the body noted that they have proposed to increase tobacco taxation by at least 26 per cent in upcoming federal budget.

Pakistan faces a significant challenge with widespread tobacco consumption, with over 31.9 million adults aged 15 years and above identified as current tobacco users, constituting nearly 19.7% of the adult population.

Smoking-related illnesses claim over 160,000 lives annually, representing a substantial 1.6% of the nation’s GDP each year. However, in the fiscal year 2022-23, cigarette taxes covered only 16% of these expenses, marking a decline from 19.5% in 2019.