KABUL (SW): The Wolesi Jirga (lower house) on Monday approved imposing 100 per cent duty on tobacco products, mainly cigarettes in the country.
During the session, a number of parliamentarians called for lifting the duty up to 300 per cent while others were in favor of keeping it up to 100 per cent. Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, speaker of the house, called for voting on the matter, and finally settled for a 100 per cent duty on tobacco products.
Amir Khan Yaar, head of the budget and financial affairs commission of the house, said on the occasion that the government should impose an outright ban on imports of tobacco products, mainly cigarettes.
Members of the house pronounced the use of tobacco products as a clear violation of the Islamic principles.
ENDS
