Rising Cigarette Prices Lead to Decline in Smoking Rates
Higher prices for cigarettes in Pakistan are causing fewer people to smoke. A recent report from Islamabad’s Center for Research and Dialogue (CRD) shows that smoking rates have gone down by 18%. This decrease is linked directly to the increase in cigarette prices.
The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the idea of raising taxes on tobacco products because it helps in reducing smoking. The report reveals that 15% of people surveyed said they are smoking less because cigarettes cost more now. This means there are about 11 billion fewer cigarettes being smoked in Pakistan each year. Normally, Pakistan sees between 72 to 80 billion cigarettes smoked annually, including those that are taxed, smuggled, or not taxed.
However, even with these positive changes, cigarettes in Pakistan ...