World Health Organisation (WHO) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are jointly working on proposals relating to tobacco taxation, Federal excise duty (FED) assessment on cigarettes and control of illicit tobacco trade in Pakistan.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that the WHO has written a letter to the FBR in this regard.
According to the WHO, there is a strong technical collaboration between the Federal Board of Revenue and the World Health Organisation on tobacco taxation and control of illicit tobacco trade. WHO had already worked with FBR team for the development of project proposals on "Federal excise duty assessment on cigarettes" and "curbing illicit tobacco trade in Pakistan."
There is a need to further strengthen the technical collaboration and move forward. WHO wish to inform that a WHO mission has been proposed to be here in Pakistan during the week of March 20, 2017. The WHO economic team in the Mission would like to work with the FBR on tobacco taxation. WHO hereby seek FBR's consent to work with the WHO team in this very important area.
The objectives of the proposed mission are to review tobacco taxation situation in Pakistan and conduct two-day training on tobacco taxation.
It would be highly appreciated if FBR could identify team to work with the mission and also to attend this training proposed to be organised around 20th of March 2017, WHO added.