ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: The Network, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has launched a “tobacco-free schools” campaign to create awareness among the children about the hazards of tobacco, specially through passive smoking.

A spokesman for the Network said that it would display large plaques at the gates of the schools. He said that more people lost their lives to tobacco- related diseases in this era. “We are concerned about youths being encouraged to smoke by tobacco companies and vendors,” he added.

The government, it said, was also considering to make a law to curb smoking and prohibit sale of cigarettes to minors as well as its distribution in the vicinity of educational institutions.

While the world is trying to tackle the menace of smoking, it continues to kill a smoker every eight seconds.

The World Health Organization-sponsored “Framework on control of tobacco convention (FCTC)” is an international legal instrument that aims at checking the spread of tobacco and its products. It will also help improving tobacco control by protecting children and adolescents from exposure to and use of tobacco products and their promotion.