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| December 08, 2006 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 16, 1427 |
Tax on tobacco firms to be further increased
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Federal minister for health Mohammad Nasir Khan on Tuesday said the government would continue increasing tax on tobacco industries. Talking to mediapersons at a seminar on “Women health issues”, he said in the recent past the tax on tobacco industries had gradually been increased and the government intended to continue the trend.
He said the ban on smoking in public places would be imposed by March. The health ministry has sent guidelines to all provincial health ministries to implement anti-smoking ordinances.
He said smoking would be banned on domestic and international flights, in educational institutions, government offices, public places, restaurants and hotels.
Strict guidelines and measures are also being developed for fast-food outlets, as the junk foods helped obesity.
Earlier, speaking at the seminar, the minister said a vast majority of women suffered from malnutrition and anaemia.
“One woman dies every 20 minutes in Pakistan due to complications related to childbirth,” he said, adding that many more suffered lifelong disabilities, as a result of these complications.
Mr Khan said the poor health status of mothers also affected the health and survival of their children. About 25 per cent of babies are born with low weight and 73 out of every 1,000 children die before their first birthday.
About 80 per cent of births take place at home, mostly at the hands of untrained birth attendants under unhygienic conditions. Very few women have access to proper ante-natal and postnatal care, he added.
Brig Dr Imran Majeed spoke on palpitations in women which, he said, was usually overlooked and not considered a serious problem.
His finding depicted that cardiac palpitations in women were frequently due to some underlying cardiac arrhythmia. It is imperative to have a correct diagnosis of the underlying rhythm problem. Misdiagnosis is very common.
Dr Yasmeen Mehmuda highlighted sensitising teenaged girls on future motherhood. The objective was to target that segment of society whose behavioural change and mindset can bring important impact.
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