KARACHI, Jan 7: Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death in the world, including Pakistan, yet the tobacco companies are given a ‘carte blanche’ to advertise their products. This is the main reason why smoking is on the rise in the country.
Already more than 40 per cent of the male adults and eight per cent of female adults smoke regularly. Moreover, the number of smokers is mounting rapidly, says a press release.
According to the latest data released by the World Health Organization, 4.9 million people in the world died of tobacco-related diseases last year. If the trend is not checked the total number of people dying because of smoking by 2025 will rise to about 10 million per year, which means more than 27,777 deaths every day.
The authorities had formulated a law to combat smoking but the same was yet to be implemented properly. This is despite the fact that protecting a citizen’s life was the responsibility of the government.
To highlight the above issues and to protest against the recently-launched media campaign by Pakistani tobacco companies, health professionals belonging to various professional bodies — including Pakistan Chest Society, Pakistan Anti-Tobacco Coalition, Cancer Society, Pakistan Medical Association and Hypertension League — organized on Tuesday a meeting which was attended by well-known physicians, surgeons and academics.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nadeem Rizvi of the Pakistan Chest Society said it was unfortunate that local tobacco companies had been given a free hand to target children and youths. Such type of advertising has been banned even in the other countries of the region.
He was of the view that the tobacco industry was portraying smoking as something that’s glamorous, exciting and socially acceptable.
Criticizing the so-called achievements of the tobacco companies, Prof Javaid A. Khan of the Aga Khan University said they had talked about the planting of more than 24 million trees, providing mobile dispensaries and educating youths through education resource centres.
However, the tobacco companies’ adverts didn’t mention the thousands of deaths caused by lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes and respiratory failure which are taking place every day in the country. The tobacco industry is directly responsible for these deaths.
Prof Sirajuddaulah of the Pakistan Medical Association said tobacco was highly toxic, containing 4,700 chemicals, including 50 carcinogens. As an addictive substance it is more powerful than heroin or cocaine but this fact is conspicuous by its absence from the adverts.
Pakistan Television Corporation should play the due role in this regard and should never become party to spreading disease, disability and death in society, added the professor.
Prof Mohammad Ishaq of the Hypertension League stated that the government had announced the promulgation of the Smoking Prohibition Ordinance in October 2002 but as yet no practical steps had been taken to implement the law. Tobacco use was on the rise in the country.
Prof Naeem Jaffarey of the Ziauddin Medical University said it was the government’s responsibility to protect the health of the citizens. The authorities should, therefore, take appropriate steps to curb the growing menace of smoking.
Dr Sajid Ali of the Pakistan Anti-Tobacco Coalition pointed out that the tobacco companies were using “lifestyle marketing” techniques to promote their products. Their tactics encouraged youngsters to take up smoking.
“In spite of the claims by the tobacco firms that they don’t sell cigarettes to those under 18 years of age, research has shown that every day about 1,500 children get hooked to tobacco,” he claimed.
Towards the end of the meeting a resolution was passed which urged the government to stop the tobacco industry’s ad-campaign from being aired, broadcast or published. The resolution also called upon the government to implement as soon as possible the Smoking Prohibition Ordinance.
