For we have not sinned - Social media reacts to govt’s ‘sin tax’ on tobacco products

There is never a dull day in Naya Pakistan. And why should there be? After all, Naya Pakistan is finding new ways to make the lives of the nation, better and healthier.

In its latest effort, Federal Minister for National Health Services Aamer Mehmood Khan announced on Tuesday that the government will impose a sin tax on tobacco products. “We are sending a sin tax bill in the National Assembly in which taxes would be imposed on cigarettes and tobacco products,” Khan said while addressing the Annual Public Health Conference.

While tobacco products are harmful, branding them as a “sin” seems to not have gone down well with several, including Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda.

The minister took to Twitter and said, “I’m a chain cigarette smoker myself and I appreciate all the measures taken by the government to discourage smoking and I understand it’s injurious to health but this term “Gunnah Tax” is inappropriate. If this is gunnah then what would we name and term the actual gunnahs."

Not only Vawda, but several are of the same opinion. 

Here are some reactions to the "sin" tax:

One user was definitely glad there is a sin tax imposed on tobacco products.

Some questioned the name of the tax.

Others found it extremely weird.

While some tried to see the positive side:

And others tried to educate the rest of the country on the supposed brand new tax:

A sin tax is an excise of sales tax which is imposed on goods which are deemed harmful such as tobacco, alcohol, candies, soft drinks and fast food.