Sir: Smoking is easy, but its repercussion is not easy to handle: It causes premature death. Smoking is one of the major causes of fatal lung cancer. It causes heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
According to a report, almost 16 million people in the US are affected by diseases caused by cigarette smoking. Six million people die every year due to excessive tobacco use and it is estimated that toll of deaths by smoking will be increased to 8 million in 2030. Another report revealed that smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.
According to Pakistan Demographic Health Survey, 46 percent men and 5.7 percent women smoke tobacco. In 2015, $8.9 billion were spent on advertising and promotions of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco by tobacco industry. Life is precious. We should not harm our health by smoking. Let’s fight against smoking and protect precious lives of Pakistani citizens and people all over the world.
ABDUL QAYOOM TALPUR
Mirpurkhas
Published in Daily Times, January 26th 2018.