Govt approves health tax on cigarettes, carbonated drinks
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The federal government has finally approved to impose health tax on cigarettes and carbonated drinks in the budget for fiscal year 2019-20 on Sunday.
According to the details garnered, the federal government has approved imposition of tax of Rs 10 on a pack of 20 cigarettes. The government has also approved Rs1 tax on a 250 milliliter bottle of carbonated drinks, the prime minister’s aide said.
The health tax will be announced in the federal budget for fiscal year 2019-20.
Focal Person to prime minister for Tobacco Control Babar Bin Atta has confirmed the government’s decision about health tax. He also said that the revenues generated from the tax will be spent through the health card on poor masses of the country.
“It is first instance in the history of the country that a tax being imposed to discourage use of tobacco,” Babar Atta said. “The health tax will generate an amount of Rs. 40-50 billion,” he added.
The focal person to PM further mentioned that the government has taken a courageous decision and it could not be blackmailed by the merchants of death.
IMF emphasizes to impose tax on agriculture
Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has demanded the more strict conditions for the bailout package as the IMF emphasized to impose tax on agriculture.
According to the sources, the IMF also did not accept the finance team of Pakistan and expressed Adviser to Prime Minister Shaikh Abdul Hafeez negative views about his financial team.
The International Monetary Fund demanded Pakistan do more for getting bailout package. The IMF shared its view with the adviser to PM that the current financial team of Pakistan cannot fulfill the expectations. According to the sources, the IMF officials said that the financial team cannot implement on the bailout package due to disorder between the team.
