I WOULD like to congratulate the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) for organising the 14th Cholistan Jeep rally recently. The role of this jeep rally in promoting Cholistan’s culture and in intensifying the passion for motorsports in Pakistan is commendable.

However, I was disappointed to learn that the TDCP has allowed Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) to promote smoking culture in the country by allowing advertisements of its cigarette brands at the afore-mentioned event.

The tobacco epidemic is a grave public health issue, both globally and in Pakistan. Smoking kills over 200,000 people every year in the country and all forms of tobacco advertisement are banned in the country.

Advertisement of cigarette brands by PTC at a sports event depicts a blatant and condemnable disregard for the country’s laws. Hence, I strongly urge the Punjab government to please take action against the TDCP and PTC for violating the country’s laws.

Prof Javaid Khan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2019