While preparations for the new financial year’s budget are going on, anti-tobacco advocates have urged the government to consider the implementation of a health levy on tobacco products.
The revenue from the levy can be used for procuring the Covid-19 vaccine for the citizens.
According to them, since June 2019, the exchequer has faced a loss of about Rs130 billion as a bill approved by the federal cabinet could not be included in the finance bill.
In 2019, the federal cabinet had approved the health levy of Rs10 on each packet of cigarette and Re1 on each bottle of 250ml sugary beverages. However, it could not be included in the finance bill.
