The Pakistan Tobacco Company has released an updated list of cigarette prices for various brands in Pakistan. The Federal Government is planning to increase the General Sales Tax (GST) to further raise cigarette prices nationwide.

Additionally, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has recently raised tobacco taxes in its budget. For the new fiscal year, the development tax on Virginia tobacco is set at Rs.50 per kilogram, while other types of tobacco will be taxed at Rs.30 per kilogram.

Cigarette Prices in Pakistan

Various cigarette manufacturers distribute their products across Pakistan. The Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) has announced updated Cigarette Price in Pakistan for different brands. Notably, one major tobacco company has set the retail price for one of its brands below the federal excise duty rate.

For 2024, cigarette prices in Pakistan will vary by brand, including Dunhill Lights, Benson Hedges, Gold Leaf, John Player, Capstan Filter, CBPM, Gold Flake, Embassy Filter, and Dunhill Special. Please refer to the attached notification for the complete Cigarette Price List 2024.

PTC and FBR Sales Tax Rate

Effective from July 23, 2024, the Pakistan Tobacco Company and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will implement new sales tax rates on various cigarette brands. Increasing tobacco taxes is a proven method to reduce tobacco consumption and address the significant health and economic burdens of smoking in Pakistan.

Tobacco Use in Pakistan

Currently, over 22 million adults (19%) in Pakistan use some form of tobacco. This includes about 32.4% of men and 5.7% of women. Smokeless tobacco products like gutka, naswar, and paan are also widely used. Youth tobacco use is a growing concern, with more than 14% of surveyed youths (ages 13–15) in Karachi reporting tobacco use.

The total number of smokers in Pakistan has reached 31 million.