What happened: Pakistan faces a growing rate of health diseases related to the usage of tobacco products. However, the Pakistan National Heart Association has called for increased taxes on tobacco-related products “instead of necessities of life of the people.” Details: The General Secretary of the organization, Sanaullah Ghumman, in a news conference, said, “Smoking is not healthy for human health in any aspect, and it is the first step towards addiction.” Not only PANAH but the health experts and civil society groups have called on the Prime Minister to increase taxes on such products. It is pertinent to mention that tobacco kills nearly eight million people worldwide, and 1.5 million Pakistanis lose their life due to smoking and related diseases. Sanaullah Ghumman, while urging the government to increase taxation on cigarettes, said, “This will be a win-win situation for us. Since it will lower the health burden and also increase revenue.”
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