News reports emerged last week from Pakistan about the government introducing a new tax on cigarettes and sugary drinks.
However, this is not a new tax being introduced for the first time according to the director general of the National Health Services, Dr Assad Hafeez who said that tax on tobacco and sugary beverages was being charged in some 45 countries.
The #gunahtax translated from #sintax went viral on social media in Pakistan with a lot of people coming out in support and against this new tax.
Faisal Vawda, Member National Assembly NA249, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took to Twitter appreciated the move by the government to discourage smoking but took a stance against the term gunah tax.
Mona Alam, Journalist also took to social media against the new tax being termed as gunah tax.
On the other hand, some people have come out in support of the proposed sin tax as a great initiative by the government.
Anti-tobacco forum Pakistan gave clarification on social media of what a sin tax is.
Even after clarifications on social media, the trolls have taken every chance to make fun of the new tax by coming up with some very interesting memes.
"Waseem bhai! aap thakte nai hain?"
"Nai, mein gunah nai karta"
— nomi (@nomi49)
What is a Sin Tax?
According to the , it is an informal tax on items considered undesirable or harmful, such as alcohol or tobacco.
Generally, the tax is used for the purpose of reducing the use of items by increasing their prices.
According to a report by , the earliest example of the sin tax can be dated back to Britain's excise tax on distilled spirits, which was enacted in 1643.
What’s all the fuss about?
Breake down cigarette.Quitting from addiction concept. Source: Getty Images
Local media in the country translated the term ‘Sin Tax’ in Urdu to Gunah Tax. This literally means a tax for people who want to commit sin. Due to which the understanding of the tax got lost in translation.
The whole drama unfolded when the Federal Minister for National Health Services Aamer Mehmood Kiani addressing the 9th Annual Public Health Conference in Islamabad said: “We are sending a sin tax bill in the National Assembly in which taxes would be imposed on cigarettes and tobacco products.”
The idea is to use the accumulated tax on human development and education.
Mr Kiani addressing the Tobacco Control Cell said that “Tobacco use is a major cause of death in Pakistan and this Ministry will take every measure to save lives of people of Pakistan from these deadly products.”
According to The Tobacco Atlas website, In Pakistan tobacco is the cause 160,100 people every year which is 438 deaths per day.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has welcomed the move by the government. WHO’s acting chief in Pakistan, Dr Nima Saeed Abid, told local media that “We appreciate the move because it would lead to improvement in healthcare of the people.”
Source: Getty Images
“Several countries around the world are charging such taxes and use them for making the healthcare activities effective. This can lead to the promotion of public health and healthy lifestyle and we support the move completely,” he further added.
According to the World Health Organisation benchmark for minimum excise tax on cigarettes should be 70% whereas Pakistan only stands at 45.79%.
