PESHAWAR: Representatives of various civil society organisations have demanded of the provincial government to expedite work on the legislation regarding prevention of smokeless tobacco to ensure protection of public health. They also asked to strictly implement the relevant laws to control growing tendency of smoking, particularly among youth.

Speaking at a press conference on the eve of the World No Tobacco Day at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Coalition for Tobacco Control (CTC) chief executive Dr Riaz Yousafzai said that a draft was prepared by the provincial cell regarding prevention of smokeless tobacco, which was still pending with the law department to formally present it in the provincial assembly.

He said that smoking was the single largest preventable cause of deaths, adding that tobacco even in small dose was harmful and there was a need to motivate public against its consumption. He expressed concern over the increase in the trend of smoking among young people. He said that laws were being enacted against use of smokeless tobacco in the country, but their implementation was virtually negligible.

World No Tobacco Day being observed today

Flanked by members of CTC and civil society organisations, including Fata NGOs Consortium chairman Zar Ali Afridi, Sikh community representative Radish Tonny, Qamar Naseem and Taimoor Khan, he said: “There is no safe level of exposure of tobacco smoking. Active smokers as well as passive smokers (apparently non-smokers) were becoming victims of dangerous diseases, including cancer, tuberculosis, heart problems, obesity, diabetes and liver,” he added.

Dr Yousafzai said that some of the multinational tobacco firms were openly flouting the ordinance on smoking in defiance of the Supreme Court directives and used all possible means to make the Pakistani public addicted to tobacco.

He said the tendency of tobacco smoking had increased owing to absence of any action by the enforcement agency. He demanded of the government to implement 85 per cent enhanced pictorial health warning on cigarette pack as per commitment, made globally two years ago.

According to WHO report, Dr Riaz said that around 108,000 people died due to smoking across the world, while over 555,000 children continued to use tobacco each day.

He suggested making all public places and public transport smoke-free by strict enforcement of the anti-tobacco laws across the country. He also urged the media to play its role to create awareness among public against the use of smokeless tobacco and its repercussions on health.

Qamar Naseem said that a number of cigarette selling points had been established in various parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the authorities concerned were least bothered to take action.

He suggested formulation of a national action plan for strict implementation and establishment of provincial tobacco control cells with adequate financial and human resources to counter the challenges. Other speakers called for joint efforts to eradicate the menace from the society.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2017