Heavy taxes on tobacco products advocated

Islamabad : Speakers during a workshop here on Wednesday advocated heavy taxes on tobacco products to check their use by minors.

The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) organised the event on 'recommendations for child-centric policy to prevent tobacco consumption among children' at a local hotel.

SPARC Executive Director Sajjad Cheema said considering the fact that the prices of tobacco products were still within the range of minor children, the civil society organizations striving for the better future generation of Pakistan was concerned about the situation.

"Heavy taxations on tobacco products will reduce tobacco consumption and decrease the accessibility of minors to tobacco products. This will not only reduce the health bill of the government but will also contribute to a clean and healthy environment for future generations. We urge the government to increase tobacco taxations to save our children," he said.

The participants expressed concern on emerging trends of tobacco use among children and youth.

They said Pakistan’s population consists of 60% people below the age of 25 where alarming statistics of young people getting addicted and at risk of tobacco consumption.

The participants demanded strict imposition of Section 5 of the Prohibition of Smoking Ordinance, 2002, to prohibit smoking at the public places, whereas section deals on disallowing smoking in public transport. There was a consensus among them that strict implementation of the law and public vigilance was required to check tobacco use at public places including parks, transportation including public transport and restaurants whereas parents needed to be made aware of harms of second-hand smoking for their children.