Call to withdraw advance tax on tobacco 

Farmers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday urged the federal government to withdraw advance tax on tobacco, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

The cruel tax on tobacco is not accepted in any case, the farmers of seven districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had prepared a plan of action against the additional tax on tobacco, says a press statement. 

A meeting was also held at Senator Haji Dilawar Khan's residence with tobacco farmers from different districts and owners of small cigarette manufacturers.

The price of tobacco per kg in the open market is Rs256 per kg while the advance tax on it is Rs390 per kg, they lamented.  

“The advance tax on tobacco leaf is hurting the sale of the crop in the market. This would render over 15,000 labourers and 20,000 families of farmers jobless,” they added.

The farmers of seven districts of KP asked the government to implement the recommendations of the Senate Committee.

JUI Provincial Ameer Senator Maulana Ataur Rehman said the Special Committee of the Senate unanimously rejected the Rs 390 per kg tax on tobacco. Senator Haji Dilawar Khan said that if the government does not consider the decision of the Senate Committee, ninety percent of the factories will be closed. “The central government will lose revenue of Rs 130 billion due to the implementation of the cruel tax.” 

Reporter: Manzoor Hussain