KARACHI, May 30: The World No-Tobacco Day is being observed across the globe on May 31 against the backdrop of increasing use of tobacco in the developing countries, including Pakistan.

The theme for the this year’s World Tobacco Day is “Tobacco Free Films, Tobacco Free Fashion”, aimed at seeking support of the showbiz industry to help stop promotion of tobacco use in the country.

The Tobacco or Health Committee” of Aga Khan University is organising a seminar on Saturday at its auditorium with senior artiste Shakil and health experts Prof Javaid A. Khan, Dr Abul Faizi, Dr Irfan Vazeri, Prof Serajudaula and Dr Marine Andrades as speakers.

Issues to be discussed include the tobacco epidemic; what can showbiz stars do to control the tobacco epidemic among Pakistani youth; psychology of tobacco addiction; how to motivate patients to quit smoking; hazards of pan masala, gutka and suparis.

Meanwhile, Dr Saleem Azam of the Pakistan Society, addressing the participants of a seminar, said of the people who tried to quit smoking on their own less than seven per cent achieved more than one year of abstinence. The relapse rate was thus very high.

He said about 75 per cent of the tobacco users reported an opportunity to try marijuana by the age of 18 and more than 85 per cent made the transition to the drug. — APP/PPI