Group 1 - The article emphasizes that increasing tobacco product tax rates is the most effective method to curb tobacco and cigarette consumption, with Nepal having the lowest comprehensive tax rates in South Asia [1] - The Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population, Gopikrishna Regmi, noted that despite high inflation, tobacco and cigarette prices have not increased due to low taxes, making it easy for smokers to purchase cigarettes [1] - The article references a study from the Nepal National Cancer Research Center indicating that a 10% increase in tobacco product prices would lead to a 5% decrease in consumption [1] Group 2 - The spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance stated that although tobacco and cigarette tax rates are low, they have increased by 300% over the past decade, with at least a 10% increase each year [1] - The Chairman of Action Nepal highlighted that Nepal has the lowest tobacco tax rates in South Asia, suggesting that both the health hazard tax and the consumption tax should be raised to around 32% [1] - The article cites a 2023 report from the Health Rights and Tobacco Control Network Nepal, showing that South Asian countries have significantly higher tobacco product tax rates, with Sri Lanka at 77%, Bangladesh at 73%, Pakistan at 61%, and India at 58% [2]