Women MPs pledge support for anti-tobacco legislation in Parliament

ISLAMABAD: Newly elected members of Parliament have voiced their commitment to the anti-tobacco campaign and child-friendly legislation.

They made the commitment during an Iftar dinner hosted by the Aurat Foundation for the newly elected MNAs.

Aurat Foundation Executive Director Naeem Ahmed Mirza urged the federal government to consider a 26 per cent hike in federal excise duty (FED) on cigarettes instead of imposing general sales tax (GST) on petroleum to alleviate the economic burden and save lives. He emphasized the potential of reducing tobacco consumption through higher taxes to redirect resources toward poverty reduction efforts and economic development initiatives.

In support of the campaign for tobacco-free kids, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Country Adviser Anees Ahmed briefed the MNAs on the necessity of sustaining the momentum of increased FED share in retail prices to bolster revenue and public health efforts. He highlighted the benefits of a proposed 26.6 per cent FED increase in 2024, including reduced smokers, increased tax revenue, and cost recovery for health expenditures.

Mumtaz Mughal, Director Programme of the Aurat Foundation’s anti-tobacco campaign, underscored the alarming statistics on tobacco use in Pakistan, stressing the urgent need for action to mitigate its adverse effects on public health and the economy.

Several MNAs, including Zeb Jaffar, Sahar Kamran, and Syeda Shehla Raza, voiced their support for increasing taxes on tobacco products and championing child rights legislation both within and outside the parliament. Others, including Naima Kanwal, Shazia Sobia, Naeema Kishwar Khan, Minority MNA from Thar Neelam Sahiba, Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, and Mahjabeen Abbasi, echoed their commitment to the anti-tobacco campaign and child-friendly legislation.

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Syed Safdar Raza, an anti-tobacco campaigner at the Aurat Foundation, emphasized the benefits of the proposed tax hike, emphasizing its potential to benefit both health and revenue. He urged the government to resist the influence of the tobacco industry and explore innovative approaches to tax collection without burdening the underprivileged.

Moreover, civil society representatives pledged unwavering support for the government in dispelling misinformation propagated by the tobacco industry. They vowed to actively engage in public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the detrimental effects of tobacco use and advocate for stringent regulatory measures to curb its consumption.

In addition to advocating for higher tobacco taxes, civil society representatives highlighted the importance of comprehensive tobacco control policies, including advertising restrictions, smoke-free environments, and access to cessation services. They underscored the need for multi-sectoral collaboration to address the complex socioeconomic factors contributing to tobacco use and its adverse health outcomes.