LAHORE - In an apparent bend and bow move, the Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has been closed down, relegating the Federal Health Levy Bill 2019 to further delays at least, if not making it redundant.
Anti-tobacco campaigners have asserted that the TCC has been abolished on the pressure of tobacco lobbies for making continuous efforts to curb smoking and initiating the process of imposing a health levy. Secondly, the TCC, established in 2007, aimed at enhancing efforts to curb tobacco use through various strategies. “Closing down of the TCC is a serious development. Tobacco lobbies have managed to silence a strong voice. This has been done on the pressure of influential lobbies and all-powerful industry to put to an end any chance of increasing taxes on cigarettes in the coming budget”, said Dr Ziauddin Islam, a global public health and tobacco control expert. He said, the TCC was highlighting the importance of increasing taxes on cigarettes to save public health and fulfil global obligations.
“Here, cigarettes are the cheapest in the region, and there is a dire need to increase taxes for taking injurious-to-health items beyond the masses’ reach, and ultimately, lessening the health cost,” he said and adding that at least 33 countries had so far imposed sin tax to save the public from smoking. The defunct TCC had proposed the imposition of the sin tax on cigarettes and sugary drinks in a presentation to the Prime Minister about two and half year back. The PM directed initiating a summary for the Economic Coordination Committee for its consideration.
However, the Cabinet Division suggested a ‘Money Bill’ for obtaining views of the Federal Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Law and Justice.
“Fearing criticism, the term ‘sin tax’ was replaced with a federal health levy. Subsequently, the ministry drafted ‘The Federal Health Levy Bill 2019’ to impose a health levy of Rs10 per pack of 20 cigarettes and Rs1 per 250ml bottle of sugar-sweetened beverages,” said Dr Ziauddin Islam.
