`Tobacco use has significant impact on healthcare cost´
(WorldNews Pakistan)

Islamabad : Tobacco use has a significant impact on the economic costs of a country, including the healthcare costs for treating tobacco related diseases and lost productivity of workforce. The annual economic cost of smoking in Pakistan is as high as Rs143 billion. This was stated at a media session organised by Human Development Foundation (HDF) on Wednesday. The session was joined in by partners from civil society like PANAH, SPARC and media persons. The media session was held to highlight the growing need for enforcement of Health Levy bill on cigarettes. Azhar Saleem, CEO HDF, shared that higher taxes on tobacco products create a win-win situation, in terms of increased revenues for...