Earlie­r, cabine­t decide­d to make health levy part of Financ­e Bill 2019ISLAMABAD: The government has ignored the cabinet’s decision on imposing a health tax on cigarettes in the budget for fiscal year 2019-20 in a bid to generate funds for development of the health sector. It decided to impose health tax on tobacco at the rate of Rs10 per pack of 20 cigarettes. However, officials of the health ministry did not agree with arguments of the FBR chief, saying the cabinet had taken a decision to impose health tax. According to the ministry officials, a certain lobby has managed to create hurdles in the way of including the health tax in the finance bill. It also agreed that the revenue generated through the health tax would be earmarked for development of the health sector over and above the budgetary allocation.

Source: The Express Tribune June 13, 2019 03:33 UTC