THE World Health Organisation has disclosed that 34pc of Pakistani males and 5.7pc of females are ‘addicted’ to tobacco while the percentage among 13- to 15-year-olds is 14 … some 1.5 million children below 12 years smoke cigarettes or hookah and consume gutka or naswar … WHO proposes imposition of Rs31 excise duty per every 10-cigarette pack in the forthcoming budget to generate [additional] revenues. Funds thus generated can be utilised to discourage tobacco use. …

The use of hookah has significantly decreased during the past decades … because of the hassle involved [in hookah preparation]; smokers have switched over to cigarettes … The sponsorship of mega sporting events by cigarette companies through aggressive campaigns [has also] played a pivotal role [in glamorising smoking] while the lack of education has been another major factor [in getting people hooked to tobacco].

Laws prohibiting smoking at public places are violated with impunity … [while] smoking in public transport is rampant … men are seen smoking even while having a suckling in their lap ... The use of liquor has also increased manifold over the years while heroin addiction is also on the rise at an alarming rate. …

The WHO report is shocking and warrants stern action by the government on a war footing to safeguard public health at large … otherwise tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases may reach epidemic proportions. … — (May 29)

Selected and translated by Zaheer Mahmood Siddiqui.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2014