Update: 12:38PM TAX on cigarettes has been increased to 12.5 per cent with an additional health levy of five per cent also charged to the purchase of the item.

Attorney
General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said taxation would be used to combat the terrible
problem of Non Communicable Diseases like diabetes, lung cancer and heart
diseases.

He said duty has been removed on diagnostics equipment
including diabetes strips.