ADHUNIK for higher tax on tobacco
UNB
ADHUNIK, an anti-tobacco organization, has hailed the budget proposals for the fiscal 2015-16 for raising the tax rates on smoking tobacco especially on bidis whose tax structure was left unchanged for the last couple of years and for introducing a levy of SD (supplementary duty) at 20 per cent on locally produced cigarette paper with a specific tariff description of HS Code that evaded tax so long for lack of coding, reports UNB. ADHUNIK, however, expressed disappointment that the increases do not go far enough to dissuade the vulnerable groups like the poor and the young people from smoking. National Prof Dr MR Khan, chief adviser and Amanullah Khan, president of ADHUNIK expressed the view through a statement. Moreover, the impact of tax hikes on tobacco products will be offset by the increase in the purchasing power of the smokers both existing and potential, said the statement. The organisations persistent demand has been for a steep rise in tobacco tax rates to levels that will deter the smokers and boost governments revenue from a high tobacco tax regime thus acting as a two-way sword of tobacco control and creating additional government fund, it said. The anti-tobacco leaders were also frustrated by the fact that non-smoking or chewable tobacco included in the definition of tobacco products by the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013 which are equally harmful to the health as smoking tobacco has not been brought under tax net this fiscal as called for by ADHUNIK, according to the statement. Since these tax proposals have not yet been adopted and will be debated on the assembly floor, these issues may possibly be reconsidered in public health interest and in a bid to protect our fragile environment from the degrading influence of tobacco, the anti-tobacco activists appealed to the lawmakers, it added.
