Staff Reporter
Around the world, 84pc of tobacco users live in developing countries hence creating a vicious circle of tobacco and poverty. Tobacco use tends to be higher in low income households in most of the countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the Pakistan Institute of Economics 2018 study, in Pakistan, the poor have the highest rates of tobacco use and spend a greater amount of their household income on cigarettes.
Nationally, 25.3pc of households in the lowest income group smoke cigarettes compared to 16.2pc of households in the highest income group.
Azhar Saleem, CEO Human Development Foundation (HDF) stated tobacco is an addictive product and diverts a significant amount of income to tobacco related problems. If this amount is invested in other needs of the household, like housing, food, education and health care, it can contribute to eradicating poverty in Pakistan.
Often it is argued that taxes on tobacco products may affect users of low income households the most since the tax burden denotes a higher proportion of their income spent on tobacco products as compared to that of high income households. However, evidence shows that the underprivileged actually benefit the most from higher tobacco products’ cost caused with higher taxes.
Compared to more affluent tobacco users, shoddier tobacco users are more likely to quit tobacco use when prices are increased, meaning they benefit from subsequent decreases in tobacco-related health problems and resultant health costs. Increasing taxes on tobacco products can have a positive impact on low income households as lower income households are more responsive to changes in prices of tobacco products.
According to the World Bank 2019 study half of lifetime users of tobacco die prematurely from tobacco-related disease, and many more users and their families are forced to suffer the hardships and pain of tobacco-caused diseases and disabilities. Lower income populations are more responsive to increases in tobacco prices than people with higher income. Increased tobacco taxes will reduce tobacco use among lower income people, therefore reducing the burden of tobacco disproportionately imposed on the poor.
