PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture Minister retired Major Sajjad Khattak expressed concerns over proposal of imposing tax on tobacco used in “naswar”.
During a debate on amendment to finance bill in KP Assembly, he said: “Naswar is consumed by poor people. It is not prohibited in Shariat, rather it is Mubah [permissible] as its usage does not carry a reward or punishment”.
The amendment was proposed by opposition members, demanding the KP government to increase tax on naswar and cigarette as these are luxury items. They also sought revocation of tax on private schools.
PML-N lawmaker Sobia Shahid said tax should be imposed on tobacco instead of education.
Earlier this month, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also refused a proposal to impose tax on naswar, stating that it is consumed by poor people.
