Tobacco industry ‘trying to choke off anti-smoking treaty’

New Delhi moot voices concern over slow response to legislation

ISLAMABAD: The governing body of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) – Conference of the Parties (COP) – has expressed grave concern over the tobacco industry’s ‘persistent’ attempts to infiltrate and manipulate its efforts at implementing the Anti-Tobacco Treaty.

During a week-long conference held in New Delhi India, health experts from around the globe urged the WHO FCTC’s 180 Parties to remain vigilant of the tobacco industry efforts to undermine the implementation of the treaty.

“The body fears that the use of tobacco will kill over one billion people in the 21st century if strong and effective measures are not taken to control its use,” the conference, which concluded on November 12, recommended.



However, the recommendations were drafted on Tuesday, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune. First Secretary at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi Fozia Fayyaz represented Pakistan at the conference.

The participants believed that due to weak and slow implementation of anti-tobacco laws, it is estimated that by 2030, over 80 per cent of the world’s tobacco-related mortality will be in low- and middle-income countries.

During the conference, the parties have requested further research on evidence on tobacco use and tobacco control.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2016.