Children who smoke

This calls for countrywide awareness campaign, implementation of the anti-tobacco legislation that we have in place.

According to a recent report published by the Pakistan Paediatrics Association, an alarmingly high number of school-going children between toddler and preadolescent ages smoke daily in Pakistan. This statistic is approximately 1,000 to 1,200 school-going children aged between six and 12 years. What is so alarming is that children so young, still going through their many neurodevelopmental stages, are undertaking an activity that has serious health effects. They engage in it without perhaps even knowing or understanding the detrimental effects that smoking has on health. This calls for a countrywide awareness campaign and implementation of the anti-tobacco legislation that we have in place.

Current legislation includes the Prohibition of Smoking in Enclosed Places and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance, 2002, which stipulates restrictions on smoking in public places, the advertising of tobacco products and on sponsoring events and selling tobacco products to minors. However, despite these measures, not all young children are impacted by them. Much of this is to be blamed on weak enforcement of the ban on smoking in public places. Observing adults smoke openly obviously encourages receptive youngsters to do the same. Hence, schools must undertake programmes to educate children about the hazards of substance abuse, at all grade levels. There must be government sponsorship for such programmes across all schools in Pakistan. A higher tax should also be imposed on the sale of tobacco.

We have appropriate legislation in place but the problem lies in its lack of implementation. Smoking in Pakistan, since 1998, has increased by 30 per cent, according to the World Health Organisation. Therefore, all stakeholders, including educators, parents, media and the government, are requested to become involved in the health and future of our young generation. This public service is a responsibility of all Pakistani citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2013.

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