Karachi (Report: Zeeshan Hussain) Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC), holds a briefing session on World International Day against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking on Saturday. The day is celebrated to eliminate drug misuse and addressing the structural causes that fuel the illegal drug trade.
Anti-Tobacco Activists expressed disappointment on government’s decision of not increasing the taxation on tobacco products in federal annual budget 2021-22. Heavy taxation on tobacco products will not only reduce the tobacco consumption and its accessibility but will also keep the minors away from tobacco.
The theme of this year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is to share facts on drugs to save lives, highlighting the importance of consolidating the indication base and raising awareness so that the community, governments, civil society, families, and youth can make informed decisions towards a healthy life. Pakistan must start from controlling tobacco consumption by imposing tobacco taxes to keep it out of reach of children because children are considered as replacement smokers.
Dr. Jai Pal Chabriya, Secretary Human Rights Pakistan Medical Assosiation stated smoking in your late teens and early 20s creates changes in the brain and body that can make young people more apt to experiment with other addictive substances. A study of university students, published in early 2020, found that smokers had higher levels of depression symptoms. Tobacco-product excise taxes are most significant for attaining the health objective of reduced tobacco consumption.
Allama Imam Ahsan Siddiqui Ambassador at large for Global Peace and Women Right & Interfaith harmony Activist Drug in any form is not acceptable not only in Islam but in every religion, Its is time to take some productive steps to combat the use of drug specially the religious ledaers must come inform, our youth future in on stake the Govt institution must enhance the capacity to reduce the illicit trafficking and drug abuse.
Mr. Rana Asif Senior Human rights Activist mentioned that . Yearly, 166,000 people die due to tobacco consumption because it’s a leading root of escapable deaths worldwide. Why is the government not initiating measures to ensure the implementation of all relevant laws to enhance tax on cigarettes to boost its revenue and reduce health costs? Tobacco-product excise taxes are most significant for attaining the health objective of reduced tobacco consumption.
Mr. Muhammad Kashif Mirza, SPARC said Smoking cigarettes is a doorway towards drugs. Already, in Pakistan the number of smokers has reached up to 29 million with 1200 children who start smoking every day. It is a gateway that creates changes in the brain that make a young adult more vulnerable to the effects of other drugs. Since Pakistan is selling the least expensive cigarettes there is a high prevalence of smoking.
He further added that in recent year’s government has raised the tax on all essential items, but there has been no net increase in tobacco taxation from the past 03 years on the contrary the health cost has increased up to 615 billion (1.6 % of GDP) reported in Pakistan Institute of Development Economics latest report. The revenue which FBR generated from tobacco is 110 billion, whereas the health costs due to loss of productivity and tobacco-related illness are much higher.
