ISLAMABAD, May 30: Around two dozen citizens and civil society activists held a protest organised by a non government organization ‘The Network’ with reference to ‘Anti Tobacco Day’ in front of National Press Club on Thursday.

Protesting participants were holding placards and banners with slogans to quit smoking.

Anti Tobacco Day will be observed on Friday.

Participants were informed by an NGO that tobacco kills almost six million of its users each year.

The tobacco industry needs to attract new customers to replace those who die or quit. Tobacco industry’s strategy sells its products through advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS).

Young people aged 13-15 years are up to five times more likely than adults to be offered free cigarettes by representatives of tobacco companies.

In developing countries, one in 10 of these young people approached with such an offer; compared with 2 percent of adults.

This targeting of young people has often been condemned by the courts.

In 2010, a United States jury found a tobacco company guilty of enticing children to become smokers by handing out free cigarettes.

In Pakistan tobacco prevalence among men is 32 percent and among women is 9 percent.

Every year more than 100,000 people die due to tobacco related diseases.