KARACHI: Health experts on Thursday expressed serious concern over rising incidents of cancers, heart and lung diseases caused by increasing rate of smoking in Pakistan.
They shared these views during a press briefing at Karachi Press Club, organised by National Alliance for Tobacco Control (NATC), Pakistan Chest Society, Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), and Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).
They regretted that cigarette smoking kills over 100,000 Pakistanis and this death toll is far greater than total deaths occurring as a result of suicidal bombings, traffic accidents and crime related killings in given years. NATC Chairperson Professor Dr Javed Khan asked the federal government to increases taxation on cigarettes in order to curb the growing tobacco epidemic in the country.
He said that the recent news of federal government considering decrease in the taxation on cigarettes in the upcoming budget will be backward move for tobacco control in the country.
Quoting a research conducted by International Agency for Research on Cancer last year, he said that 50 percent increase in inflation adjusted price could reduce smoking prevalence by 20 percent. Professor Javed said that “Taxation on cigarette at present in Pakistan is lowest in the region that encourages the public, especially youth to take up this powerful addiction.”
He said that significant increase in tobacco taxes are a highly effective tobacco control strategy that could lead to significant improvement in the public health according to recent WHO and World Bank reports.
Pakistan Medical Association Secretary General Dr Qaisar Sajjad said that tobacco is responsible for almost 50 percent of all cancer cases in the country, yet smoking is still being advertised in the country at the point of sale and is portrayed through television drama serials as a pleasurable, cool, glamorous act.
He demanded a comprehensive ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship in the country, including advertising at shops and through TV drama serials and films. About the hazards of second hand smoking, he said that passive smoking is a serious health risk to a non-smoker.
He necessitated that all public places and public transport should be made truly smoke-free in order to protect the health of non-smokers. Addressing doctors of Pakistan, he said that they should not only set a good example by not smoking themselves, but also work to make their clinics, health centres and hospitals smoke free.
PCS Vice-Present Professor Nisar Rao warned that the tobacco in any form increases an already extensive risk of heart disease in individuals suffering from hypertension and diabetes. He regretted the closure of Tobacco Control Cell in Islamabad is working under ministry of health.