PIMA Demands To Increase Prices Of Tobacco Products

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2017 ) : Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) Thursday demanded to increase prices of tobacco products in upcoming budget to discourage the smoking trend in the country.

In a joint statement President PIMA Dr. Abdul Malik, Prof. Khabib Shahid and Prof. Sohail Akhtar said smoking was injurious to health and there was need to increase its prices so that general public avoid it, said a press release issued here.

Pakistan, they said, was in the list of countries who were on top in smoking trend, saying that currently there were 22 million young people were chain smokers in the country. According to an estimate, about 100,000 people every year in Pakistan suffered from the diseases of lungs cancer, stroke, heart and asthma due to the consumption of tobacco products, they added.

They said the countries where heavy taxes were imposed on tobacco products were witnessed with significant decline of smoking trends. They said imposing heavy taxes on tobacco products would also further generate revenue of the country.

They said the elements involved in encouraging the sell of tobacco products and making efforts to decrease its prices should be unveiled before public. PIMA demanded to impose heavy taxes on tobacco products and also said that an awareness campaign should be launched to discourage smoking by informing the public about its damages.