‘Sin Tax’ to be imposed on tobacco products in Pakistan
Pakistan government will be imposing a ‘Sin Tax’ on all tobacco products, which is most likely to increase cigarette prices. National Health Services Minister Aamer Mehmood Khan has announced on Tuesday that the government has decided to impose a ‘sin tax’ on all tobacco products.
While addressing the Annual Public Health Conference, the minister said that a ‘sin tax’ bill would be sent in the National Assembly. “According to that bill, taxes would be imposed on cigarettes and tobacco products”, told the federal minster.
The minister further said, “Tax received from this would be spent on the youth including their human development and education.” Pakistan would be following into the footsteps of the Philippines for imposing a sin tax on tobacco.
In 2017, the World Bank cited the sin tax reform in the Philippines as among the most successful tobacco taxation which not only helped in the increase of revenues for the country but also cut down on the number of smokers.
A sin tax is imposed on specific goods and services at the time of purchase that are considered harmful to society and individuals, for example alcohol, tobacco and gambling ventures. There are various countries, who have imposed sin tax on alcoholic items and on energy drinks.
Following the news regarding ‘Sin Tax’ being imposed, here is how twitter reacts to the development:
https://twitter.com/laltaintabahde/status/1069982047496757249
‘Sin Tax’ – an explanation of its meaning. Urdu translations having a field day today.
No, I hadn’t heard of the term ‘Sin Tax’ either but I’m glad I have now. Thanks to PK Govt and SMedia. https://t.co/He2iege9Gs— Saffina Ellahi PTI SMT (@SaffinaEllahi1) December 4, 2018
Government is planning to impose 'Gunah Tax' on tobacco products.
Then there should be a 'Gunah-e-Kabeera' tax on makeup products too.#SinTax— Zohaib Hafeez (@ZoHenx0) December 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/mariamsmadness/status/1070020783727099904
اس کا مطلب ہے کہ خٹک صاحب ہر بھی "گناہ" ٹیکس لگے گا؟ 😂 ویسے میں کل سے وہ بندہ ڈھونڈ رہا ہوں جس نےحکومت کو سیگرٹ پر گناہ ٹیکس لگانے کا مشورہ دیا۔ #SinTax #گناہ_ٹیکس pic.twitter.com/9MilDDjQqN
— Syed Ali Haider (@SyedAliHaider13) December 4, 2018
سگریٹ پر گناہِ صغیرہ ٹیکس، مین پوری، گٹکا و ماوا پر مکروہِ تحریمی ٹیکس، ہری و کالی غرض کہ ہر طرح کی نسوار پر مکروہِ تنزیحی ٹیکس، چرس گانجا پر گناہِ کبیرہ ٹیکس،
اور شیخ رشید صاحب کے سِگار پر گناہِ کبیرةُالعظیم ٹیکس نافظ کیا جائے!#AchaSorry 😷#SinTax #Tobacco #Pakistan— 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒛𝒂 – 𝓛𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓸 🏹 (@masood_619_) December 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/keenmind_/status/1069955864788918273
If only the twitter "intellectuals" knew tax on tobacco is known as sin tax worldwide . #SinTax #ControversyMachines
— Najeeba Ali (@NajeebaMukarram) December 4, 2018
How can you be giving opinions on the economy if you don't even know a basic term like "sin tax" and think it's something PTI invented…
— g h a u r a (@ghauraghaura) December 4, 2018
WTH…#SinTax? Seriously? No "genious" could come up with a better name for this so called #GunnahTax 🤔🙄 pic.twitter.com/TvTNvfRA84
— Seema Sirhindi (@SeemaSirhindi) December 5, 2018
This "gunnah tax" is yet again another opportunity to start vetting your acquaintances.
The STUPIDEST of the lot will fixate on whether cigarette smoking is a sin or not.
— Mangogh (@ManhattanMango) December 4, 2018
Most interesting response came from Faisal Vawda, who is the Federal Minister for Water Resources. Here is what he thinks of the ‘Sin Tax’.
The minister took to Twitter and said, “I’m a chain cigarette smoker myself and I appreciate all the measures taken by the government to discourage smoking and I understand it’s injurious to health but this term “Gunnah Tax” is inappropriate. If this is gunnah then what would we name and term the actual gunnahs.”
I’m a chain cigarette smoker myself and I appreciate all the measures taken by the government to discourage smoking and I understand it’s injurious to health but this term “Gunnah Tax” is inappropriate. If this is gunnah then what would we name and term the actual gunnahs.
— Faisal Vawda (@FaisalVawdaPTI) December 4, 2018
