ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar on Thursday said the implementation of the decision to enhance the size of pictorial warning on cigarette packets had been delayed for two months.

On February 11, Ms Tarar had announced that the size of the pictorial warning would be increased from the current 40 per cent to cover 85 per cent of the cigarette packets.

It was also stated that the tobacco industry would be instructed to introduce the new packing from May 31. However, according to rules, the industry has to be given a grace period of 60 days to exhaust the stock already available in the market.

Speaking at a press conference, Ms Tarar said the implementation date was extended after consultation with the stakeholders. “All stakeholders, including the tobacco growers and traders, have been taken into confidence on the matter. Two months are not a long time and we want to implement the decision according to the convenience of the stakeholders,” the minister said.

Minister says decision taken after consultation with all stakeholders

However, an official in the ministry of NHS on the condition of anonymity added that the decision to extend the date was made during an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday evening.

“At the meeting represented by officials of the cabinet division, FBR and other departments, it was stated that the tobacco industry had been asking for eight months for the implementation of the decision. So it was decided to extend the date by two months till July 30. The tobacco industry will get a grace period of further 60 days,” he said.

When contacted, Nadeem Iqbal, the executive coordinator for the Network for Consumer Protection, expressed disappointment over the decision and said it should have been implemented on time.

“We have been demanding the government go for plain packets of cigarettes. Unfortunately, the government does not realise how much it spends on the health sector because of diseases caused by smoking,” he said.

The recent GATS survey should also be an eye-opener for the government. The first ever GATS survey for the year 2014 was conducted to know if the country was fulfilling obligations under the World Health Organisation (WHO). During the survey, 9,856 households were sampled and one individual from each household was interviewed. The survey showed that currently 23.9 million adults (19 per cent) used tobacco and out of these 15.6 million (12 per cent) smoke tobacco and 9.6 million (8 per cent) use smokeless tobacco products.

The survey showed that 29 per cent smokers in Pakistan started smoking before the age of 17 years and three in 10 persons, who currently smoke, thought about quitting because of a pictorial health-warning label.

Besides, seven in 10 adults (16.8 million) who worked indoors were exposed to tobacco smoke at the workplace and nine in 10 adults (21.2 million), who visited restaurants, were exposed to tobacco smoke. The average amount spent by smokers on 20 manufactured cigarettes was Rs40.90.

Ms Tarar told the press conference that smoking killed nearly six million people every year, including 600,000 by effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, lung and cardiovascular diseases, she added.

Speaking on the occasion, WHO country director Dr Michel Thieren said Pakistanis spent Rs119 billion on the purchase of cigarettes. He said illicit trade of tobacco should also be stopped.

Deputy director general (health) and the project director tobacco smoke-free capital Dr Minhajus Siraj said the federal capital had been declared a tobacco-free city.

“Smoking in public transport and public places has been banned. Cigarette cannot be sold to any person less than 18 years of age. The situation in Islamabad is much better than other cities,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2015

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