Indian health volunteers dressed in costumes participate in an anti smoking rally on the eve of the ‘World No tobacco Day’ created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Hyderabad on May 31, 2011. In Pakistan one hundred thousands young men died annually due to smoking. – AFP Photo

LAHORE: World No Tobacco Day will be observed on May 31 with the aim to highlight health hazards associated with tobacco use and drum up support for effective policies to discourage its consumption.

Muhammad Javed project manager Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of Health, while talking to APP on Monday said that lungs cancer is on the rise among youth. While quoting a survey he explained that more than 100,000 (one lac) people in Pakistan die due to use of tobacco.

He said that 22 to 25 million people use tobacco in any kind. He added that annually 82 billion cigarettes are consumed in the country on average.

“Tobacco Control Cell is making efforts to control this health threat and it has trained law enforcement agencies in 20 districts and as a result 120 cases have been filed against the people who violated smoking rules in any form”, the official highlighted.

In connection with no tobacco day on May 21, the Department of Pulmonology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital chalked out various activities to promote awareness and special pamplets would be distributed among public,besides awareness walk and display of banners.

According to World Heath Organization, tobacco use is the second highest cause of deaths globally after hypertension and is currently responsible for killing one in ten adults worldwide.