Cigarettes in Pakistan are Cheaper than in Other Countries
Published on August 26th, 2011 08:43
While 26 countries of the world have introduced cigarette taxes that compose the minimum advised 75% of the retail price, covering about 115 million people, cigarette taxes in Pakistan are still between 65 to 80 % of the retail price, which is at present below the rate advised by the World Bank. Due to these low taxes, tobacco products in Pakistan are cheapest in the world.
Approximately 2 billion people live in 23 countries where tough mass media campaigns directed on informing people about the hazards of smoking have been aired within the last two years, according to data presented in the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2011.
Starting from 2008, 16 countries have adopted national smoke-free laws covering all public and workplaces. This means that about 739 million people in 31 countries are being protected by this smoke-free legislation. Pakistan has tobacco control laws adopted since 2003 that ban smoking in public and workplaces.
According to the report, countries have realized significant results in adopting proven policies to decrease smoking, but much work still should be done. The new report mostly pays attention on graphic health warnings national anti-tobacco mass media campaigns that efficiently inform people about the hazards of smoking.
In spite of the progress being realized in countries, which collect tobacco taxes, government officials still continue to monitor activities. Governments collect approximately $133 billion in tobacco excise revenues, but at the same time spend less than $1 billion on tobacco monitoring.
“Increase in tobacco taxes and more severe graphic warnings are an essential factor of a national strategy to decrease tobacco usage and protect the health of our people. More than 60% of our people are illiterate and such warnings will inform them about smoking consequences and will be like a deterrent for new smokers,” stated Khurram Hashmi, national coordinator of the Coalition for Tobacco Control-Pakistan.
The report also demonstrates that more than one billion people in 19 countries are currently protected by law demanding 50%on larger health warnings, up from 547 million people in 16 countries in 2008. In general, 42 countries require graphic warnings; 30 countries have already labels covering about 50 % of the pack. Pakistan is among those countries that require 40% or even larger warning on the cigarette package. Research demonstrates that large labels are efficient at informing consumers about the health hazards of tobacco use, discouraging non-smokers those who want to start from smoking.
“Pakistan announced that current labels will be replaced with new more hideous health warnings within this fiscal year,” Khurram said.
If efficiently implemented, the tobacco treaty will be a primary determinative factor in decreasing smoking and its consequences all around the world.
