ISLAMABAD: The Coalition for Tobacco Control Pakistan (CTC-Pak) has criticised the government particularly the Health Ministry for capitulating to the whims of the tobacco industry by failing to increase 80 percent pictorial health warning on cigarette packs.
The CTC-PAK, a coalition of 64 partners, held its 7th annual national coordination meeting in Islamabad to discuss the current developments of tobacco control in Pakistan. The objective of the meeting was to strengthen the ongoing efforts of coalition members to develop a roadmap at national and sub-national level for the year 2016-17, said a press release issued on Friday.
“The civil society organisations demand immediate enforcement of larger health issues, vigorous monitoring of tobacco control laws and complete ban of tobacco advertisements of any type,” the statement added. They also urged the government to make their correspondence with tobacco industry transparent and make meeting minutes public. The participants appreciated CTC-PAK efforts for organising training workshops to enhance their capacity on the issues related to tobacco control in general and the monitoring of the laws in particular.
While speaking to the coalition partners, CTC-Pak National Coordinator Khurram Hashmi said that the tobacco industry is trying to sabotage graphic health warning that was inducted back in 2010 so it can continue to play with the lives of millions of Pakistanis. “We have approached the Islamabad High Court for justice and we hope we will get it”
Hashmi further said that the CTC-PAK is committed to raising awareness of the threat posed by the tobacco epidemic and of the steps that can be taken to reduce tobacco use and save lives.