ISLAMABAD: Health advocates and organisations of 25 African countries have written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Shari urging him not to allow tobacco companies to manufacture 10-stick cigarette pack called ‘kiddie packs’ to be exported to Sudan.

According to the letter, signed by 54 organisations and 60 advocates from 25 African countries and available with Dawn, the prime minister has been asked to protect the world’s children by not allowing export of kiddie cigarette packs to Sudan.

“We, the undersigned, are public health advocates in countries across the African continent. Many of us have worked tirelessly for years to pass and implement laws that regulate tobacco products. As you know from your strong tobacco control regulations in Pakistan, these laws protect children, vulnerable populations and the general public. In Pakistan and many other countries, regulations do not allow packs smaller than 20 cigarettes to be sold. These smaller packs of cigarettes, known as ‘kiddie’ packs, make it easier, cheaper for children to buy them. The 20-cigarette rule is a global standard,” they stated.

They said in Pakistan, a leading cigarette manufacturing company was pushing the government to change regulations so that it could manufacture 10-stick cigarette packs and export them to Sudan. However, WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in its Article 16 calls parties to prohibit the sale of cigarettes in small packets, which increase the affordability of such products to minors.

Consequently, Pakistan as a party to the Convention should not allow manufacturing of 10-stick cigarette packs. The company’s claim is that it won’t sell kiddie packs in Pakistan, but only in Africa. It is unconscionable that the company thinks it is alright to change a law in one continent in order to target vulnerable populations in another. In Sudan, and other countries in Africa, people need food, medicine and other lifesaving supports. What they do not need is kiddie packs of cigarettes that put them at increased risk of tobacco addiction, diseases and death. And we know that once the company gets kiddie packs into one country, they will make their way across Africa,” the letter stated.

“If a product is too dangerous for one country’s children, it is too dangerous for children anywhere. Putting other people’s children at risk of tobacco addition, disease and death is unacceptable - don’t put our African kids at risk by changing your strong tobacco control regulations in Pakistan,” the letter stated.

A public sector university of Islamabad Health Services Academy (HSA) has also voiced its concern against the step.

In a recent press conference, HSA Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan explained how tobacco contributed to the growing burden of chest and lung diseases in Pakistan, urging for stringent measures to combat this issue.

He said the increased accessibility and affordability of 10-pack cigarette products, particularly among children, lead to higher rates of addiction, diseases and premature deaths.

Dr Khan said there was global consensus against weakening tobacco control laws, as demonstrated by a petition from a coalition of 54 organisations and 60 public health advocates from 25 African countries.

Dean of Allied Health Sciences at HSA Prof Dr Matiur Rehman highlighted the concepts of active smoking, passive smoking, second-hand smoking and third-hand smoking, stressing the severe impact of tobacco on public health.

A consultant pulmonologist from Indus Hospital, Dr Madiha Siddiqui, shared her clinical experiences with patients suffering from chronic illnesses caused by tobacco. She noted an alarming increase in female patients affected by tobacco-related diseases, emphasising the widespread impact of tobacco on various demographics.

During question answer, they said it would not be morally correct for Pakistan to ban a product for its own children and export it to some other country where children would consume it.

It is worth mentioning here that the HSA is a premier public health institution in Pakistan, dedicated to promoting and protecting the health of the Pakistani population through education, research and policy advocacy.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2024