'Track and Trace' system to monitor supply chain of tobacco industry mandatory: Experts.

ISLAMABAD -- Former Tax Commissioner Jehanzeb Mahmood stressed the dire need of a robust Track and Trace system to monitor the supply chain of the tobacco industry.

Speaking at a High Level Policy Dialogue organized by Social Protection Resource Centre (SPRC) here, he said that the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) needed support and capacity building to strengthen their enforcement measures. He also suggested the creation of a redemption fund on all tobacco industries on account of the serious harms caused by tobacco use.

The SPRC is a think tank dedicated to universalize social protection in Pakistan. The dialogue brought together senior policymakers and opinion leaders from the government, FBR, Tax experts, National Institute of Health, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences , Health Services Academy, PIDE, Public Health, CTFK Partners, civil society and media representatives. Consensus was developed on practical and doable recommendations to balance the revenue, employment, and health considerations in case of taxation on cigarettes.

"Introduction of Sin Tax Reform Law in 2012 in Philippine resulted in three million less smokers in 2015 with the biggest decline in the poorest household," reiterated by former Special Assistant to the prime minister on health Dr Zafar Mirza.

Executive Director SPRC Dr. Razia Safdar commenced the session by highlighting the established harms of tobacco use and...