ISLAMABAD: Mubashir Akram, National Convenor of ACT Alliance Pakistan, has called for protecting Pakistan’s fiscal sovereignty by ensuring tax policies reflect national interests and local realities.
Speaking to journalists, he expressed concern over foreign influence—particularly from WHO, CTFK, and Vital Strategies—in Pakistan’s tobacco taxation, often ahead of budget season. He noted these organisations operated without proper registration or approvals.
“While public health is important, tax decisions must be made transparently, based on local data and enforcement capacity—not external agendas,” Akram said. He criticised WHO’s double standards, highlighting that its host country, Switzerland, has yet to ratify the tobacco control treaty it promotes globally.
Akram warned that further tax hikes could harm the legal tobacco industry, already heavily taxed in 2023, and fuel the Rs. 30 billion illegal trade, risking the loss of Rs. 300 billion in tax revenue.
He urged the government to support legal businesses, improve enforcement, and resist foreign pressure. “Policy decisions must come from within, through dialogue and data—not foreign campaigns,” he concluded.
