Activists laud govt for retaining taxation on tobacco associated products.

KARACHI -- Activists have thanked the Prime Minister Imran Khan for retaining taxation on tobacco products in the federal budget announced for 2020-21 but have urged for its implementation in the truest sense with no loopholes that could be exploited by the concerned mafia.

Addressing a seminar organized by Society for the Protection of Rights of Children (SPARC) they acknowledged that PTI government has honored its commitment to safeguard public right to quality health.

Speakers including child rights activists, journalist as well as those engaged in public health related research said that no less than 170,000 people die because of diseases caused or aggravated due to the consumption of tobacco and its bi-products across the country.

SPARC representative, Kashif Mirza was of the opinion that heavy taxation on tobacco products will not only reduce the tobacco consumption but would also keep minors off from tobacco.

He, however, expressed his surprise that while inflation and hike in dollar rates, during past several consecutive years, have led to significant increase in the cost of living complimented by surge in the rates of goods largely used by the masses yet little affect was noticed in the cost of tobacco made goods, particularly cigarettes.

This, he alleged was because tobacco industry could had...