ISLAMABAD, May 30: The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for strict regulations against tobacco use and greater awareness about deadly tobacco products. On the eve of No-Tobacco Day, being observed on Wednesday (May 31), the WHO emphasized the need for empowering people, raising awareness about the deadly tobacco products, removing the disguise for effective control of tobacco use.

The theme for this year is “Tobacco: Deadly in any form or disguise”. The purpose of the day is to encourage countries and governments to work towards strict regulation of tobacco products.

It also aimed at raising awareness about all forms of tobacco like cigarettes, pipes, bidis, kreteks, clove cigarettes, snuff, smokeless and cigars.

“Tobacco addiction is a global epidemic that is increasingly ravaging countries and regions that can least afford its toll of disability, disease, lost productivity and death. The tobacco industry continues to put profits before life; its own expansion before the health of future generations.

“Now, as nations have begun to fight back with a global strategy, and some countries begun to turn the course of the epidemic, tobacco companies continue to launch new products disguised to appear less harmful and more attractive”, the WHO said.

They continue to take their old and new customers to more insidious levels of deception by promoting and selling new products disguised under healthier names, — ‘mild, light’, ‘low tar’, ‘full flavoured’, ‘fruit flavoured’, ‘chocolate flavoured’, ‘natural’, ‘addictive-free’, ‘organic cigarettes’, ‘PREPS’ (Potentially Reduced-Exposure Products), ‘harm-reduced; or more attractive-looking packaging.

All of these products and practices are deadly and addictive and thus the absence of truthful information deprives even well intended people the ability to make healthy choices.

Whether the disguise is perpetuated by multinational corporations or by well intended, but uninformed shops, families, and individuals, the end product can be the same: use of products that carry unnecessary risks of disease, debilitation and death.

The truth about tobacco can empower people to improve their own health, as well as the health of their families, friends, and others in their community.

Agencies add: But sadly despite celebrating the day use of cigarette and tobacco is on the rise in Pakistan. Around 100,000 people die because of diseases caused by tobacco use every year and around 1,200 people take up this habit every day.

The western countries, through strict regulations are trying to get rid of this menace while the tobacco industry is finding new markets in the Third World countries, where it could easily penetrate and pursue more and more people to adopt smoking.

Almost 1.3 billion people currently smoke worldwide, the overwhelming majority of whom — 1.2 billion — live in developing countries.