ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, during a meeting with a delegation of the British American Tobacco (BAT)/PTC, has formed a committee, headed by Minister of State for National Health Services to address the issue of pictorial warning on cigarette packs with all the stakeholders.
Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar, senior officials from the PM Office, Ministry of Finance, FBR and National Health Services were also present there.
The delegation discussed with the finance minister the issue regarding enhancing size of pictorial warning on cigarette packs from 40% to 85% as per SRO issued by the Ministry of National Health Services. The SRO is to be implemented wef 31st of March.
The delegation were of the view that while the tobacco industry was paying taxes and contributing to the national revenue, sale of smuggled brands was already hurting their business which might receive a boost after implementation of the said SRO and also impact the legal sale of cigarettes, considerably cutting down on revenue for the government.
The minister with consensus of participants of the meeting directed formation of a committee headed by Minister for National Health Services, comprising members from the Cabinet Division, Finance, Health Services and FBR to look into the matter and put up recommendations within a week.
